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1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

FRENCH  AND  INDIANS 


OB" 


ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


By  N.  MATSON, 


Author  of"  Hkyond  the  Atlantic,"  "  Kkminihc'enckb  or 
Bureau  Count v,"  Mapm,  Sketches,  Ktc. 


BRCONI)  KDITION. 


PRINCETON.  ILL. 

REPUBLICAN   JOB   PHINTINU   ESTABM.SIIMENT, 

1874. 


..        I 


2  67175 


i 


^ 


15  V   N.  MATSON, 
»"  'lM<  ..m,.,.  ...  the  Lihn„lu,i  „i  f..„gr,.ss.al   Washln«lu„. 


i 


^ 


p 


IxNTRODLTCTlON. 

Tii(.    hcHinitnl  country    between    t]w    Wal.asl. 
an.l  Mississipjii  rivers,  now  witliin  the  honiHluries 
oi  the  Sucker  State,  wan  on.-c  occupied    l.v   the 
powerful   trihu   of  Illinois    [iMliaiis.     Over   those 
prairies,  and  thruu^iri,  these  groves,  tliese  wild  peo- 
ple, while  in    their  native  simplicity    roamed    at 
l)leasure.     Generation  succeeded  genciation,  and 
I'o  one  d<,uhted   their  ri-ht  to  possess  the    land. 
The  French  came  and   liv(,d   among   them,  intro- 
dncinga  new  religion  with  arts  <,fcivili/Htion,  and 
between  the  races   harmony   and    friendship  pre- 
vailed.    But  afterwards  an  enemy  came,  war  and 
carnage  followed,  and  the  Illinoians  were  anndii- 
lated. 

For  a  time  the  conipierors  j.ossessed    the  land, 
but  the  tide  of  civilization,  which  is    ever  rolling 


INTRODUCTION. 


wostward,    (compelled  them    to  find  a  new    homo 
heyond  tlie  Fatlier  of  Waters. 

To  irive  some  account  of  these  events,  has  heeii 
the  (»hject  of  this  work,  and  to  what  extent  these 
elVorts  liave  been  a  success,  the  reader  is  hilt  to 
jud«j!;e.  Some  ot  the  incidents  lierein  narrated, 
are  drawn  from  history,  others  from  tratlitions, 
while  many  are  from  the  statements  of  j)ersons 
who  figured  in  them.  To  collect  these  traditions 
from  the  Indians  and  early  FrtMich  pioneers,  has 
heen  the  work  of  many  years,  and  harmoni/.ing 
all  contlicting  accounts,  candor  coni[)els  me  to  ad- 
mit, has  not  been  a  success. 

'^rhis  is  an  account  of  people  who  left  no  his 
tory,  and  all  that  is  known  of  them  are  scra[)s  ot 
tradition,  which  are  more  or  less  vaile<I  in  doubt 
and  uncertainty.  While  the  Indians  were  still 
in  the  country,  I  obtained  from  tlu!m  many 
things  relating  to  the  past;  some  of  which  are 
eoniirmed  by  notes  recently  collected  among  the 
tribe  in  western  Kansas. 

The  descendants  of  the  early  French  j>ionoers 
now  living  on  the  American  Bottom,  have  also 
been  interviewed,  and  all  their  traditions  carefullj 


K^i 


i 


INTRODUCTION. 

notvA.  Many  of  the  places  wlicrc  riiarkcd  cvtMits 
occiirrvd  have  I)L'uii  visited  ;  nt  rioiiie  of  which 
relics  oi  the  past  still  exist. 

A  short,  time  since,  a  siiinll  edition  of  this  work 
wae  i)ulilishcd  and  copies  of  it  sent  Hinon«^'  the 
descendants  of  the  French  pioneers,  Fur  Traders, 
Indian  A-rents,  etc.,  for  the  purjiosc  of  ohtainin;,' 
their  criticism;  and  tlirou::h  this  means  uuuiy 
errors  were  detected,  and  new  facts  developed. 

This  l)0(.k  d.>es  ihit  claim  to  he  a  full  and  com- 
plete history  n\-  the  French  and  Indians  of  the 
Illinois  river,  hut  will  ho  found  to  consist  mainlv 
of  sketches  and  incidents  relatin^r  thereto.  Neitli- 
erdoes  it  vouch  for  the  correctness  of  everv  state- 
ment made  in  its  [)ages;  as  many  of  them  are 
compiled  from  conflict in-r  accounts,  and  of  their 
probability  ..r  imj.robahility,  others  can  decide. 

Among  those  who  aid(!d  me  in  my  researches 
v.-ere  Geo.  E.  Walker  and  Col.  (Jerden  S.  Ifub- 
bard,  of  Chicago;  Col.  I).  F.  lint  and  David 
Walker,  ui  Ottawa;  John  Hamlin,  of  Peoria, 
and  I.yman  C.  Draper,  of  Madis.ui,  Wisconsin. 

N.  M. 
Princeton,  Sep)tember  1,  1874. 


( 


fl' 


H 


Cox  r  K  \  Ts. 

CHAPTKR  I. 
J'>lift  an.l  Marquctte-Starvofl   Ro.lv, 

CHAPTER  ir. 
I'atI.er  MarqiK-tte-Disoovorv  of  tho  Mississippi. 

CIIAPKF{   III, 

Illinois  In.liuns-U  VantuM.  or  (.rea,  Illinois  Tou-,., 

CllAI'TMR  IV. 
Thorn.ss  Raisclon  the  Har.k  of  (Mu.-afjo  Rivor- 

^^  <Hs,o„   of   Imn.arulate    Concept ion-O.ath  ol 

Marquette,  ... 

ClIAPTEiJ   V. 
The  (u-eat    Explorer   of  the    West-La    Salle   an.l 
Party  Wentwar.!  Honn.l-The  Freneh  at  Peoria 
liake, 


I'AOR. 

IT) 


O'. 


68 


OIIAPTER  Vf 

llenn, le  Ton  i-The  French    at   U    Vantu„.-The 

Alarm  and  Preparation  for  Defense,  .  ^jr, 

CHAPTER  VII. 
The  Battle   a.ul    Massacre-Torturing    Prisoner..-- 

Death  of  Father  Gabriel-A  Scene  of  Horror,     78 


4 

4 


>.^ 


« 


I 


4 


»5 


CONTENTS. 

CHAF^'ER  VI!  I. 
Fort  St.  Louis,   Hock    F..rt   at..!  I,e    KocluT-Tnule 
with  the  iM.lians-  Flight  of  In.liims  aixl  Attack 
orj  the  Fort,  ... 

cilAnKK  L\. 
Return  of   the    Victoriou.s   Army-Tonti  Vi.sit.s  the 
\Ninnebago('o„ntry-The  I  nscrupulou.s  I'.iest 
—The  Great    Illinois    Chief-Ui.H    Death,  Bur- 
ial, Ac,      ... 

'  ...  y^ 

niAI'TKU  x. 

Le    Fort    de.s   Miau.is— .Strange    In.lmn    Customs— 
Munito.s    ami    Bar.se.s-- rhristiani/ing   the    In- 

diaiKs,      ... 

-      Hib 

ch.\i>ti;k  \i. 

The  La8t  of  Tonti-Fort  St.  Luui.s  liurnM^l  an,l   the 

Colony  Broken    Up-Kelics  ol   Fort   ,St.   Louus,   1l". 
CH.M'TKK   Xll. 

French  Settlement  at   Peoria-  La  VMle  de  MaiUet— 

French  Inhaltitants  of  l'e«,iia,         -  .  |yo 

('HA1>TEK   XIFL 
I'ontiac-Ma.s.sacre    ol    a     Hunting    Party-Indian 

Council— Pontiac  A.s.sas.sinated,        -  .         144 

i'HAPTLR  XIV. 
Rock  of  Refuge-The    Besiegers    and    iiesieged— A 

Ghastly  Spectacle-    Relics  (d  tht   'Iragcd^,  J07 

CII.VPTKRXV. 
The     Old     Fori— Relics    of     -Antiquity-Louisiana 
t'olony-The  Buffalo-Pat    Kennedy's    .Journal 
—  The  (;reat  Butlalo  Hunt,  -  .  172 


CONTENTS. 


ff 


;  i 


L'llAPTEU  XVI. 

Jean  Raptiste  and  Fatlur  Roiiiur — Piiire  de  IW-uro 
rajdaiii  I.i-vcTing  \'i>iis  l'i'(»ria — (Jov.  Kdwartls 
Aleeling  the  I'otlawatoinii'  Ihiofs,  -  •     lH7 

("IIAPTEH  XVI I. 

Troops  Marchinj;  Against  the  Indians — liluck  I'.-irt- 

ridgf-'Indians  Attacking  thi'  .St'ttlcrniut,        -      2U<) 

I'llAnEll  XVIII. 

Tliu  French  at  Peoria  Regarded  as  Knunue>( — iiurn- 

ing  of  I'eoria,  ....  212 

CHAPTi:il  XIX. 

Descendants   of    French    Settlers    at    Peoria — Mrs. 

Bcsson's  Narrative — Missionaries  of  lllinoifl,        223 

(IIAPTKK  XX. 
(Jen.  Howard's   F.xpedition    Against   the    Indians — 

Indians  Collect    on    liureau,  -  •  -     230 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

A  Treaty    of  Peace — Wauhonsie — Hurning   of  Fort 

(lark, 247 

(  H APT KR  XXII 

hnniigration  of  Pottawatomics — Pottawatoinies  of 
Illinois  Hiver — Ceremonies  of  Senachwine's 
(irave,         ......     250 

CHAPTER  XX III. 

Attempt  to  Murder  a    Surveying    Party — Kaltoo,  or 

Young  Senachwine — Fur  Traders,     -  -         2(55 


.1 


IH7 


JOO 


212 


223 


230 


247 


250 


205 


f 


!        ( 


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I'""'fe,l    vario,,.  ,l,.,i,,.  '""■""•'  ^n.,..  „„. 

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'■"'■7"'" '■T''-.ni,ianvor.,,,M  ;::;'; 


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I.    ! 


IH        FRENCH   AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  KIVKK. 

ilooks  of  ]>aro(|n('ts  made  mci'i'v  tlic  Ioik'Iv  w.itciv 
witli  tlieir  s(»ti^s. 

This  party  <»t'  travelers  eoiisiste'l  tif  nine  j.cr- 
sons.  Louis  Jidiet,  a  guverniiient  ollicci' ;  J  :u-<jii('> 
Mar<jiu;tte,  a  .Fesuit  priest;  live  (laistiieii,  ami  two 
Indian  intei-pretci's.  Tliey  were  tiie  liisl  to  dis- 
fovi'i'  the  npper  Mississi]i]>i,  hiN  in::'  desccnih'"!  il 
in  tiieir  canoes  ln»ni  the  nioutii  of  \Vir>('on>iu 
ri\  ei- to  its  junction  with  Arkan.si>.  Here  thc\' 
itecanic;  satislii'd  that  this  ii'reat  ri\er  of  the  we>t 
did  n(»t  einpty  iii'o  the  Pidlic  ocean,  as  thev  had 
>Uj*j>o>rd.  hin  inio  \he  Son.ih  Sea.  consecjuciitiy. 
they  turned  lh<,'ir  canoe-;  ap  sti'cain,  and  were  on 
thcii'  I'ettirn  to  ('ana«hi  lo  rc|K)rt  the  success  ol 
iheii'  (iiscoNcrics. 

It  washitc  in  the  afternoon  when  the  vovaucur."- 
arri\e(i  at  LaVantum-  the  !.:reat  town  ol'  lllinoi.- 

MK'ate  1  on  tiie  intrih  haid-;  o|'  the  rivii',  iu'ai"  the 
jtre.scnl  site  of  I'lica  They  were  ^urpri.-e(i  to 
lind  licre  a  lar^'c  town,  hnilt  aion^  the  river  'oank 
h»r  more  than  a  niiie  in  extent,  while  hack  o|"  it 
ihe-freat  meadow  wa>  co\  ered  w  it  ii  (•oni-lie!d>, 
eampinu'  tenl>.  and  ^warnIell  with  hiinian  i.ciniis. 

As  tin,'  \oyai:'enr>  ai»j»r»Mclie<l  thetowii,  Ihe  In- 
dians in  ^reat  miinhers  colhcti.'d  on  llie  rivei 
hanl<  lo  si'e  these  strae.L'"  |M'o|ile.  tu'\er  het'on- 
ha\ini!,'  looked  upon  the  laee  of  a  v\liite  nian. 
Warriors,  arini'd  with  Im)\\.->  and  arrow>,  hned  the 


(I 


JOLIET  AND  MARQUETTE. 


17 


,  IK  lis 

r  llu' 

■(I   1(. 

laii  l\ 

nl'    il 

icmU, 
'in  US. 

V     111- 

ri\  rr 

•lore 

iiiiiii. 


sli< »!•('.  pr(']>ar(.Ml  to  jj;i\«'  the  ^ti'aiij^ci's  l»attl«',  it" 
(MifiMics.  aii«l  uTft't  tlu'iu  with  I<iii(lti('ss,  if  ti'ifiids. 
Tilt'  caiMK'.-  caiiic  to  a  liall.  when  .Juliet  (li^j.layctl 
fill'  •' Wam|niiii.'"  (a  token  of  tViciitl-liip.)  at  llic 
sijiiit,  ol  wliieli  till'  \vai'ri<»!>  hiwcretl  tlieii'  weapons, 
ami  niotioneil  liimi  fo  coiiie  ashore.  ( )n  !aiMliii:r, 
Fatliei'  Maiijiiettc  approachetl  the  lii(iiaii>,  w  liile 
holdiiiu  alolt  ill  one  iiand  the  j»i|K;  (»f  [teace,  and 
ill  the  other  a  Miiall  ijold  el'os^.  The  Indian,^  col 
lecte<l  afouiid  iMaiVjiietle,  in  iireat  astoni.-liim  nl, 
olVeriiii:^'  him  many  presents  to  appease  tin'  uialh 
of  the  iii'eal  Mainto,  iVoni  whuiii  they  l»tlif\ed 
the  .-^t  raiiLi'i'i'^^  !i;id  coiiie.  Tiie  1  ra.\  ch-r.-  Icji  their 
eainie>.  and  were  eondllcted  tit  the  htdije  of  the 
liea<l  eliief,  ( 'lia.->a'joae,  where  lhe\  vvi-n-  kinoU 
entertained. 

( )ii  the  following:'  day,  at  the  reipiest  of  .loliet. 
;dl  the  Indi.iiis  ot' the  town  were  asM'inhled  on  the 
i"i\er  l»;ink,  lo  lir;ir  i  he  L:(>od  tiditiL;^  I)r<in<jlit  1>\ 
tin'  >l  ran  jze  )•.>'.  line  .loliet  planlid  a  |»<)st.  on 
which  he  placH'il  the  porti'ait  ol'  iiOiiir^  .\'l\', 
too-etlier  ssilli  a  picture  of  the  Krench  co;it  id" 
arms,  Ai'onnd  thi^  po,--!,  sealed  on  the  /found, 
were  ahoiit  one  tlioii.-aiid  warrior.-,  while  hark'  id 
them  w  ere  -taiidinu  iiiaii\-  ihoiisaiid  sipia\\sand 
pappoof>es.  Wlieii  all  w  a?«  >ileiit,  .loliet  ad\;iiict'd 
toward  the  post,  lioldili;.'  aloll  m  one  jialid  his 
yword,  and  in  the  other  a  M»d   <»f  earlli.  jn'itciaim 


»( 


|i 


i  * 


ill 


(j^ 


18         FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  oF  ILLINOIS  KIVER. 

iiii;-  in  a  l(»u(|  voice,  '*  In  the  namu  and  l>y  the 
authority  of  the  most  hiij^h  Christian  Kin^  of 
France,  Louis  XIV,  1  take  jxissession  «'|  all  llic 
countrv  troni  Canada  to  tiie  Pacitlc,  and  from  tiie 
Lakes  to  liie  SoutliSea,  and  hencefirth  it  shall  he 
called  New  France."  At  this  announcement,  all 
the  FreiU'hmcn  fir<'d  ihcii'  liuns,  and  shouted 
"  Vive  le  r<iiy 

After  conipletin^^'  this  cerenionv,  .Injict  ad- 
dressed the  Indians  as  follows:  ''On  this  post 
vou  see  the  oictui'c  and  coat  of  arms  .>t't!ic  ^'rcat- 
('>t  chid  (Ml  t'ui'rh,  whom  we  call  Kin;;'.  He  lives 
across  the  I'i^'  waJci's,  and  hi;-  dnniain  extends 
from  sea  to  sea,  and  there  is  no  chict  like  him  in 
all  the  World.  Peojdc  Irom  all  countries  come  to 
take  counsel  of  him  and  (h»  his  hiddinu'.  'I'his 
H'l'eat  chief  will  he  vour  tiilher,  and  you  will  he 
his  childi'cn  ;  he  \\\\\  f-upply  you  with  heads, 
knives,  hatchets,  cVc,  and  he  will  protect  \  on 
fr(»ii!  the  attacks  of  vour  ^ivat  enemies,  the  Iro- 
(pu>is.""  Al  the  conclusion  ol'  fFoliet's  speech,  the 
Indians  heat  their  <lrunis,  clappe<l  tiu-ir  han<ls 
and  .>-houl(Ml  with  iov. 

Father  Mai'«[Ui'tte  now  <-amc  forward  and  un- 
rolled a  canvass,  on  which  was  painted  a  piclui'c 
(►fCMirist  miiled  to  the  cross.  Raisini:'  tho  can- 
\ass  ahoxf  his  head,  so  all  the  warrioi's  could  .--cc 
the  picture,  he  said,    ''This  is    the    Savior  ol    ihc 


JOMKT  AND  MARQITKTTK. 


10 


llic 

U!l- 
ll'C 
I'llll- 

hli<' 


world,  wilt)  (IJcmI  to  rcilciMii  nil  iii;iiik-iii<l.  ;iim1  i.^ 
the  iiilci-  it\'  cartli  nixl  sky."  ALiviiii  tlic  Iii(ii:iiis 
heat  llicir  (Irums,  cIjii'ImmI  tlii'ii'  hands  and  slumt- 
e<|  long  and  l<>iid. 

WIh'11  oi'dt  !•  was  rrstoi'rd,  JMai'tiiK'tlc  jHvaclicd 
lo  tilt!  wari'ioi's.  cxjilainiiijjf  to  tlicni  tlie  i;Tt'at. 
im|M)ftan(H'  oi"  ahandoninL'"  t'n;  I'dii^'ioti  of  tlicMi' 
fallicr>  and  cniliracint;'  (Jlirl.-tiaiiity,  Cliassa,Li'»ar 
(Iir  licad  chief,  witli  tnaiiy  of  his  fia'onds  wvw 
convci'fcd  under  Mai'ijuette's  jn-cacliiiiu'  and  haji- 
H/ed  hy  him,  as  nicinhei's  of  tlie  (\ith»»]ie  ehiireli. 
Maftpiette  jra\e  iheeliiefa  nuiidici' ul  meiiientoes 
eon.'-istini:'  of  eriKses  eiaieiiixe.-,  iVc,  which  lie 
kept  ai)on1  his  per.-oii  \'nv  Jiiui-e  than  fifty  years, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death  they  were  hiiiied 
with  him. 

On  the  tliii'd  day  the  canoes  of  tlu;  tra\elei's 
wei'e  auain  on  the  water,  and  on  reacliinjj'  Lake 
iMichiiian  at  the  month  of  Chicaii'o  river,  the 
|iarty  sepai'atc"!.  Joliet  with  three  com|iani(»ns, 
i-oHtiiiiied  on  his  way  to  Canada  to  report  his  dis- 
eovcrv  to  the  (loveriior;  wdiiU-  Manpiette  with 
two  others,  went  t(»(Treen  P»av  for  the  jnii'poseof 
convertinu"  tlie  Indians. 

As  .loliet  waN  pa>>ini:  down  the  rapids  of  St. 
Lawreiiee  riwr,  near  Montreal,  ]ii>  canoe  upset, 
and  his  journal  with  all  other  valnahles,  were 
lost. 


^ 


msssmm 


V        ! 


i 


1 1 


' 


2<>  FKKNOH   AND  INDIANS  OF  II-MNOIS   lUVKR. 

Tlicsit  rxplorcrs  imltlislu'd  im  jiccminl  of  tlicir 
travels,  iiiid  llic  wnrM  \v;is  l»ul  lillh;  \\'\«\-  tor 
tlit'ii-  jniinicy,  u.\cu|>t  (.'slaltlisliiiiii-  llic  lad,  tlial  the 
Mishiissi|i|>i  river  <li<l  imt  (low  iiil(»  tlie  i'acilii' 
ocean.,  and  llliiioir?  wa.s  a  rich  c<)iiiitry. 

STARVED    liOUK. 

On  the  south  hank  of  tlie  Illin(»is  rivei",  eiL;lit 
miles  helow  Ottawa,  and  iieai"  the  tool  ot  thi' 
rapids,  is  a  reniai'kahle  elill'  known  as  Slarve(| 
ilock.  Tills  rot-kv  elill  rises  alino>t  jtoi'pendicniar 
tVoni  the  water's  ed^e  to  the  lii^lit  o|  one  hiindre<l 
and  thirt_\->ix  feet,  a?id  is  separateil  tVoiii  nri^di- 
ho|•in^•  eiiiVs  hv  a  w  ide  chasm,  wli'  -h  >hows  >I^iis 
ot  liavini!,'  hecii  prodnce<l  hy  some  eoiivnlsi'iii  of 
naiure.  Three  sides  ol  this  roek  rises  like  a 
w  alch  tower  ;  but  the  tbnrtli,  ne.xt  to  the  hInlV, 
recedes  inwai'd,  and  at  one  place  can  he  ascended 
hv  a  steep  i-oeky  stair-like  i)athway.  Amoiij^ercs 
vIm's  in  \]{V  I'ocks  are  stunted  ei'dai's,  and  hetween 
llie>»'  tlK>  c"ietus  and  mountain  i\y  li'i'ow.  T!ie 
walls  of  this  rlilV  ari'  of  ^ray  sand-ston(>,  |»artly 
hid  with  foiTst  trees.  an<l  viewe<l  from  a  distance 
has  1  he  ai>pearance  of  an  old  castle  (tf  t'eudal  time>. 

Starved  Hock  is  of  a  circular  form,  and  from 
every  {3lan<l-point  it  has  a  hold,  majestic  appear- 
ance.    Oil  the  north  side,   next  to  the  river,  the 


*•.»   <<i«.«'  .^ 


STAKVKH    linrK. 


21 


nil, 

.•(I 

•vv- 

'Cll 

he 
•t  1  V 
lice 

•iir- 
tlic 


•  'lilV  i-  |icrjM'ii'liciil;n',  ri-mu:-   in    tow  ti'iiiL;'   iii;i>m's. 

;iim|.    ;iS     it     Wi'lC,     iVoW  liih;^      doWll     nil      tile     l;i|)i(l 

.-licaiii  wliicli  lii'\\>;it  its  li;i>c.  In  ^onu'  |>l;ic('> 
tlic  wmIIs  ■aw  >iutintli.  ;inil  tlii'-k  I.ivcis  <>t  rock 
look  like  tlir  Work'  ot'  ;ii1.  wiiilc  at  ollici'  phici'.-- 
tlicN  arc  i-oniHi  willi  o\  ci  liaii:;'iiii:' craLi's,  ami  iiihIci' 
wlncli  arc  niaiiv  ilark,  (lismal-lookiiijj'  ('a^(■|•|l^, 
oiicf  tlic  alioilf  of  wild  uniiiials. 

A  part  of  the  siinmiil  of  Starved  l\ock  i-oii.-i>t.- 
ot"  >ini>o!li  sand-stone,  on  wliieli  ai'e  i'iii;'ra\('d 
inanv  names  of  \i>itor.>,  lnU  the  lari;'er  ]>ortion  of 
il  i<  i'o\-ei-ed  liv  I'arth,  \vitli  u't'-'i^^  niid  >mall  trees 
^•rowiiii^'  tlie!\'on.  The  rock  contains  an  area  of 
aliotit  tiiree  fourth.-  of  an  acre,  and  ahouiids  on 
all  >i<les  with  s]iiad»>  of  e\eri;'i"ceii>. 

Here,  \>\  tiie  sidt'  ot'  the  rivci"  >taml>  this  liii!h. 
ir-olated  rock,  tlu'  same  as  it  stoml  centMrie>  auo, 
o\<'rlookini."  the  hroad  \alley  helow  and  the  niaiiv 
uoi.d-cjad  islands  which  liiNidc  the  swift  current 
o|  the  Illin()i>,  and  here  il  will  >tand  a  inoiiunient 
o|  the  ]>a>t,aml  ilu;  atlnnration  <»!  tlie  future.  \[> 
l>old.  toweriiiLi  walls;  it>  hiiz'h,  majestic  siMniuil, 
and  its  isolated  position,  makes  it  the  most  piclii- 
reM|ue  ol'j(.'cl  on  tin'  Illinois  river;  and  tor  histor! 
cal  interest  it  ha>  no  ei|iial  in  the  westciai  countrv. 

The  \  icnv  from  the  sumndl  of  Siarvcd  liock  !> 
very  tiiu',  and  the  c(Uintry  in  the  distance  will  ce- 
iiiind  tlie  heliolder  of  a  lirand  landscaiK'  paint in;j 


VK.—  ^1  M 


i 


li 


I 


22         FRKNCMI    ANT)  INDIANS  (»F  ILMNolis  RIVKIt. 

of  ;i  Itcriiitiriil  paiiorniiia.  To  the  north  and  west 
is  Hi'L'ii  11  liiriit'  hotloiii  j»rairi(!,  hoiUKlcd  on  cadi 
side  Ity  bl nil's  covt'ivd  witli  forest  Irccs.  ^riirou^li 
this  «j^rcHt  meadow  th»ws  the  Iliinoi.>  river,  wliich 
can  l)e  seen  for  many  miles  distant,  windinu' 
ahout  in  its  serj>entine  coni'se.  On  lookini:;  down 
into  the  fiver  at  tiie  ba>e  of  the  rock,  cattish  and 
tni'tlcs  can  he  >een  spoftini;'  over  the  sand  and 
focks  in  the  clear  shulhtw  stream  ;  while  shoals  of 
red-horse  are  stemiii<^'  the  swift  cnrrent. 

In  the  (^arly  settlement  oi'  the  ('()nntry,  Starved 
K(»ck  became  u  noted  land-mai'k,  visited  icenerally 
liy  people  trav(r.in<j;;  thronjj^h  the  country,  and  l)y 
them  it  was  reii'arded  as  a  li-reat  natural  curiositv. 

Of  latter  years,  it  has  become  a  ])lace  of  ri'.^oft 
for  excursion  and  j»ic-nic  ])arties  from  the  neiiih- 
b(»riii;i'  cities,  and  no  one  ever  visited  it  without 
bcinii'  ca[)tivnted  with  its  wild   romantic  scenery. 

By  the  early  French  explorei's.  Starved  liuck 
was  called  Le  Kucher,  and  tlironn'h  them  it  has 
li^MU'cd  extensively  in  the  history  of  western  dis- 
cos t^-ies.  Almost  two  centuries  au'o  La  Salle  built 
a  tort  on  its  summit,  tlie  remains  of  which  arc 
still  to  be  seen;  and  around  tliis  fort  was  clustered 
the  first  colony  in  the  \alley  of  the  Mississi]))*!. 

Two  hundred  years  has  made  but  little  altei'a- 
tion  in  the  appearance  of  Starved  Rock  ;  the  same 
fort-like  walls    remain,  and    })robably   the  same 


1: 


STAKVKF)    KnCK. 


,1 

f 


\Vl\- 

tiie 


siiiiitc'l    i'i'.|;ii'.-  crttwii    its   siiiiiiiiil.    l»iil    tin-   >iir- 

r<Hlll(lilli.'\s  li;i\(;  UIhIcI'^'mHc  ;i  i;-|'(mI    cIlMlli;'!'.        Tlu' 

•xrcal  iin.';iilu\\'  \\lii,-li  its  suiiiiiiii  (t\  (M'louks,  (MU'c 
(.'(iNciVil  willi  i;r;is.s  and  wild  tlowers.  and  >t»iiu'- 
tiiiii's  hiackciii-il  with  lu'i'ds  ul'  hiilTalo,  is  ii(»w 
uc('iij)ic(l  \)\  tai"iii>  ill  L'losc  succossioii.  To  tlit' 
iiortli,  acfdss  tlic  lariat'  Itottciiii  praiiic  is  seen  tlic' 
villaii'i' <'l  rti(.a,  willi  its  ri'iiicnl  mills  and  warc- 
li(tus('s,  aii'l  Itv  the  >'h\v  nl  wliicli,  pass  tlie  canal 
and  railroad.  To  llic  wol,  iixo  miles  holow,  hiit 
in  ))l!iin  \ii'W  arc  the  llniiri>]iiii^'  cities  of  LaSaliu 
and  P(,'rn,  with  Tht.'ir  ehiirch  .-teepies  i;lilterinn'  in 
the  siinheam.s,  while  steam  and  canal  hoats  arc 
seen  in  the  rivei',  and  trains  of  Cars  |>assin<;' and 
repassing'  on  the  dillereiit  railroads.  Evidence  ot" 
aufiicnitiire,  conimeicc  and  ci\ili/.ation  are  lunv 
t«»  he  seen  Ironi  the  sunimil  ot"  Starved  Rock, 
where  the  sci^nerv  was  once  wild  and  loiielv  ;  and 
licre,  was  also  heard  the  wild  wai-whooj)  of 
sa\aii:es  while  enn'age<.l  in  the  hloody  strife,  leav- 
niif  the  ti'J'eat  meadow  hclovv  strewn  with  ilea<l, 
the  resnlt  (»f  an  Iro(|iioi>  victory. 

The  summit  of  Starved  liock  was.  at  one  time 
the  ahode  of  uav  and  joyous  Frenchmen,  where 
halls  and  wine  suppers  wei'c  held  ;  and  here,  too, 
was  heard,  morniiiL:'  and  cNi'iiiiiL;.  the  soiii-^-  of 
praise  from  the  lips  ot  devout  Jesuit  [)riest>.  At 
another  time  it  was  a  scene  o(  strife,  cariia^'e  and 


n 


iamm 


I  ! 


24  FKKN<MI  AND   INDIANS  OK  H.MNOlS  KIVKK. 

•  k'soliitioii,  sluinod  willi  liiMimJi  Mood,  ami  con  i-icd 
vvitli  tlic  ImmIIcs  of  llic  ^laiii.  IMc.i.>iiii'  |iai1ic.-^ 
now  claiK'C  oil  tlii-  rock,  l»iil  tlu.'v  "In  not  (-(Hisidor 
that  Imtc  was  oiirc  tlie  ilaiicr  ot'  dcalli  wIktc 
(lie  infant,  tlie  niotlici',  the  yonn;,^  inaiilcii,  the 
hi-HVc  warrior,  and  the  aiied  chiet*  alike  «u(Vered 
and  died. 

Nu  spot  in  the  great  west  is  so  cI I ),->(•  ly  ideiitilicd 
with  ihe  I'a.rly  hi.^toiy  o|  thoconnhy  as  Starved 
Koi'k.  It  was  here'  the  liist  e.\i>h>ieis  lonnd  a 
rostin^'-phiec,  and  here  was  the  nncleus  I'm-  the 
rirst  settlement  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 


<'ilAI"IMOIi    II. 

KATUKU    MAKtillKT'lK. 

^A  few  yrnvs  ji-u,  uliil,.  |,;,>sii,.j  ||,n„i,o|i  the 
V.ilicaii  ;it  Kuinc,  m_v  jiltciit  |.„,  w;,,.  ,.;,||/.,|  ,,,  ., 
•'•'I'"""'""'"'  <'"f'flc<l,  •' Portraits  „r  North  Atneri* 
'■'^"  ./("siiits."  ()„  ei.tmi.n-  this  .U.i.arim.-nt,  I 
"-'"••"''•'  life.-si/.o.l  j.nrlrait  of  a  n.an  in  thenar!, 
"I  '•'  I'n'>t,  with  an  upot,  hiM,.  h,  l.js  han.ls'aii.l 
a  iroM  rrus.un  hi.  luva.t.  Th-  portrait  n-prc- 
•^''••t,-.l  a  .nun   in  thr  prinit.  of  Ufv,  tall  an,|   wdl 

P''-l'<"t'<>i'c.l,withhandsomiMnol<|(><]  features,  and 
'•<    coiintenance   heaniin--   with    intellin-eneo.     At 

'li*'  toot  of  tlu.  pieiure  was  a  motto  in'hathi,  an.l 
''*''"^^'  'f.  p.-iHited  in  larov  Kon.an  letters,  was  the 
iia.ne  of  Father  Jae,i„es  Manjuette,  a  Jesint  priest 
"'  iNorth  zVtnerica. 

M.'inpiette  was  horn  at  L-nn.  in  tin-  north  parf 
"I  ''••••""•<',  -fa  wealthy  and  disiinuinVl,,,!  (.,,„[, ^, 
H<'wasul    line  personal  appraranee,  a  i.tr..n.,.  hi- 
'^•Hoet,  well  educated,  and  while  juung  heeuine  a 


2f> 


FRKN<*n  AND  INDIANRoK  M.MNofS  RIVKK. 


iiiM^riiMto  ill  Ilis  MMtivc  city.  Wlii'ii  ;it  ;i  |>i"(>|>pr 
iiirc  In-  \vji>  nrihiiiM'tl  a  |»rii'st,  aiid  l»ciiin-  ctitlmsi 
astic  alxmt  tin- coir-crsinii  (»f'  licatlicii.  lit-  sailiMl 
tor  AiiM  rica,  ((trsakiiiij  lM»inc.  wcallli  aii<i  Iricnds. 
t<»  >j>rnil  a  liti'  aiiioiiiz'  tlio  saxagi's  in  tlie  wcstrni 
world. 

AIUt  ri'iiiaiMiii«f  a  slmrt  tiinc  at  (,)ii(^l)ec,  Mar- 
«|iiuttc  went  west  t»i  Lake  IIuivmi,  wImtl'  lie  spi'iil 
a  mimltiM'  of  years  aiiioii"::  tlic  Iiuliaiis,  iii>ti'ucl  inn- 
them  ill  tlte  ways  of  CMiristianity.  Wiiile  ;iiii(»!iii 
tlie  Indians  hv  leariii'd  tlieir  laiin-iiaire,  and  it  is  said 
tliat  lie  understood  and  could  sjK-ak  six  diHerciil 
Indian  dialects. 

Maiviuette  went  to  ISault  ilv  8ainte  Marie,  the 
outlet  of  Lake  ^'iipericr.  where  Fatlioi"  Alloiiez 
had  |>revi(»iisly  estahlished  a  mission.  For  a  iiiini- 
her  of  years  this  devout  missionary  travclc<l 
tliroucrh  the  lake  country,  visitiiiif  dillei-ent  Indian 
viHau'es.  i»reaeliiii<i-  to  the  natives,  and  whevevm' 
he  went  he  made  many  converts  to  Cliristianity. 
Under  h\>  preacbinn'ohl  and  younn'oame  forward 
to  join  the  church  ;  sometimes  l)aj)ti/ing  one 
liundrcd  or  more  in  a  dav.  Hi-  nctive  spirit 
eoidd  not  rest,  causiiiii-  him  to  travel  iVdm  |>laee 
to  place,  ex])Osed  to  inclement  weather,  wa<liii;:' 
throu<i-h  water  and  snow,  spending-  days  witlnnit 
shelter  or  fire,  .sul)sistin^;'  on  ])arched  corn  or  moss, 
gatliere<l   from  rucks.      Sometimes  paddlinu"  his 


niSCOVKRY  OF  TIIK   MIH8rS>II>|'l    UIVKK. 


27 


^  tlie 

IIIU- 

•Ic.l 
liaii 
'vvr 
ity. 

out' 
lii'it 

loUt 

less, 
Ills 


caiior  lip  n\u[  iluwji  stj'caiii.  or  mIoho-  tlic  lal<,» 
sliMiv.  uikI  sU'upiii.n  at  iiiLilit  in  the  npcii  air. 

Said  MaPjiictti'  in  ;i  Icticr  \i>a  iViciHl  in  Kraiicc, 
'*  A  lite  in  tin-  w  il(|cnn'.->  liar>  its  diainis,  ami  tliu 
nuh  liut  (»t'  a  .-:i\a^('  i>  iM-licr  adapti'd  to  ii  trne 
disciple*  nf  Clirist,  than  the  palace  nl  a  i<ing.  My 
heart  (>tliiiic>  swells  with  ia[iluic  a>  my  caiKtu 
irlides  throiitjh  strange  walei>,  nr  while  ploddiiiM 
iiu"  wav  throui:h  thick  lo^(^t^,  ainMii-^-  hiiais  and 
thorn.-,  in  laliorini;' tor  i lie  cause  <>t' my  liMlcrmer." 

Mar<inetTe  foimded  a  mission  at.  Mackinaw,  and 
the  Indians  o(  dillereiit  \illai;'es  alon^'  the  lake 
came  thither  h>r  relii:ious  itisii  uctioii.  He  huilr 
hcri.,  on  the  baid\'  of  the  lake  a  small  clia|tcl  dedi- 
catetl  to  St,  iLMiaee,  and  a  lew  yeajv  alterwards 
In*  was  hurie«l  ln*neath   its  lloor. 

DISCOVEUV  OK  THK  MISSIS81I'1'I   RIVIiK. 

For  many  years  Indians  from  the  tar  west,  on 
vjsitinir  the  French  trading-  |)(»st  in  (\inada,  sj»oke 
<tt  ani-cat  river  that  flowed  into  the  the  ocean  :  hut 
•  »l  the  coui'se  of  this  river,  and  what  ocean  it 
emjiiied  into,  fuidd  iiot  be  leanie<l.  llowevei,  it 
wa>  believed  to  eni|ity  into  the  I*acilic  ocean  :  and 
throuj^h  it  a  water  cuminnnication  conid  lie  ol>- 
tained  acrox  the  continent.  The  (loviinoj-  of 
Canada,    knowini:     llie     ^Teat     a<l\antauf    to    he 


^r^r 


28       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVEK, 


1 


JM 


ii 


ii 


ili'i'i\('(l  IVoiii  llii.-  (iiitlct  l»»  llic  ^v^^l.  >('l('('tt'(l 
liUiiis  Jolict,  ;i  Caii;i<li;i!i  l)_v  Itii'ili,  In  iiiakt'  llu- 
iH'ct'ssarv  (lir-co\('i'y. 

Karljy-  ill  the  spriiiu'  of  I  <!7.').  Jolict  ^va^  lnriii-li- 
rd  with  tlic  ii('('i'>sai'v  oiirlit  !(»!•  riic  \n_\  mi^c.  and 
was  iMtoii  })r(.'iiaj'('<i  ti»  viiilcirk  mi  lii>  liazanluns 
('iit('r|iris(',  Kailior  Mar<jiuitc,  wlm  liad  a(.-<|iiin'(| 
iiincii  fame  aiimii^'  tlir  Indian.-,  on  tlir  sliurc  oi 
hak't'  Ilni'oii,  was  ^clfctcd  to  accompany  this 
expedition. 

Kalh(^r  Mai'«jiiott(!  was  a  desoui  votarv  oi'  the 
VIi'i;-in  MaiT.  and  to  <hj  hci'  iMihlini;'  he  was  w  ill 
inu'  lo  inakeanv  saei'ilici^.  llisk-id  nature  knew 
no  fear,  and  he  was  |ii'e|>a red  lo  sntlei'  all  |>ri\  at  ion,-, 
endnre  all  hardships,  in  discoxcrlnii'  i\v\\  lands 
and  ('(iiKiueiMiii;'  lu-w  I'ealnis.  to  the  lioiior  and 
^■loi'y  oi  Ik'I'  IIoline>.-. 

Im'I'oiv  staitiiiji  on  the  tonr  o{  diseox-erv,  Mar 
i|Uelf<^  wrote  to  a  iVieiid  in  (^)iie!)e'-,  .-avin-j  :  •*  In 
niakini;'  I  ins  \  ((vuizc  I  j)lace  inv>ell  under  the  pro- 
tection of  tlie  Ilolv  V'irii'in,  and  il  slie  i^'rants  nie 
th(>  privilcLze  oLseeinu'  the  ii'real  I'iver  of  the  west, 
which  (lows  into  the  Paciilc  ocean.  I  will  name 
il  in  lion  oi'  of  her,  '"'riiu  Im  maculate  ('lUicepiioii," 

v\ll  thiiiLis  heing  I'cadv,  Joliet  and  Mar<|nelle, 
accompaiiK'd  h\-  ti\('  comjianioiii.  in  two  l.ark 
canoes,  started  on  liieii"  jonrnev.  Tliev  <'arried 
witli  them  a  ^uppl\    ol   snntkeil   meal  and  Indian 


I 


aIP^ 


■  i^a- 


M.-ir 

•In 

S    IIIC 

i;iliic 

lull." 

\yjvk 
icictl 
)li:ui 


I 


niSCOVKKY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI    RIVKR. 


29 


^1 


-■-'^' 


i 


corn,  lifsiiles  :i  jjreat  van"<'lv  of  fi'iiikcts  lor  Imlinii 
jirc.-ciit'-;. 

At'tiT  a  t(Mii{)L'."-t iiou>  voyage,  in  roastiiiu'  aloiiij' 
llic  lake  -Ih.j'c,  t!i('_v  arrivt'l  at  (irci'i!  Hay,  cai'ly 
in  May.  Ileiv,  at  an  rndian  xillagi'  llicy  ^^'^tt'(i 
lor  a  lew  'lays,  ami  <liiriiiu'  tlu-ir  >tay,  Manjnctlc 
prraflioil  many  liiiics  to  \\\v  natives,  cxliihit inii' 
tile  j)ii-turi'  ot  the  Virii-iii,  Infant  (-hrist.  criii-i- 
lixioii,  (.'tc,  all  ol"  wliieli  lie  e\i»laiiie«l  to  lliciii. 
On  the  Illuming  of  tlie  tliinl  iluy  after  llieir  arii- 
\al,  Martjiiette  was  (lelig!ite<l  to  .see  a  cross  raised 
in  llu'  iiiiil.-t  i.r  the  village.  On  this  ero>s  were 
|>lar((l  (jfcr  ami  inilVah*  skin.-,  l)(»ws  and  ai'rows, 
war-eluhs.  kni\-es,  toinahawks,  an<l  scalps  taken 
tV-iiii  the  enemy.  Tlii<  ero>s,  ^aid  the  ll(^•ld  cliici, 
was  erccred  in  lioniM'  of  the  LM'eat  French  Manito, 
;iimI  all  the  wari'iors  are  c(.nmiandi'd  to  how  down 
.Hid  wur>lii|'  it  ( )ii  seeing  tlies(>  nianijcstalioiis 
(tl' ('!l!•i^tianity.  Man|uctt,.  raised  his  hands  hea\- 
ciiward.  and  t!uiid<ed  (iod  that  the>c  heathen 
<•!  the  tar  \'.c>t  had  enihi'aced  the  tine  rc|ii;iuii, 
ami  were    tlici'i-fore.  saved  Ironi  perdition. 

After  giving  the  Indians  many  pi'escnt^,  and 
pr'MiiHiiicing  a  hle-<ing  npoii  them,  b'athcr  Mar 
'piet'e  and  iVicnd,-.  accunipMnied  hv  an  Indian 
guide,  conliniicil  ilicir  joiirncx-  wr>twarti.  Widic 
rowing  their  canoes  up  the  rapid  ciiireni  nf  |''()\ 
ri\ei',  i1k'\    I'eaciii'd  a  villa:.^t'  on  its   hanks,  whose 


.0- 


I: 


i1 


li 


80 


FKENCH  AND  INDIANS  OP  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


inhabitants  advised  them  to  <j;;o  no  further  on  tlieir 
journey,  or  tlieir  lives  would  he  saeriiiced.  They 
told  the  voya<^eurs,  that  the  hanks  of  the  <i:reat 
river  were  inhabited  by  terocious  tribes,  who  ])ut 
all  strangers  to  death.  That  the  river  was  full  of 
frightful  monsters,  some  of  which  were  large 
enough  to  swallow  a  canoe  with  all  its  contents. 
They  also  said  that  in  a  high  cliff  of  rocks  by  the 
river  side,  lived  a  demon  whose  roar  was  so  loud 
as  to  shake  the  earth,  and  destroy  all  canoes  pass- 
ing up  or  down  the  stream  ;  that  the  sti-eam  was 
full  ot  cataracts  and  whirlpools,  which  would  en- 
gulf them  in  its  foam.  These  wonderful  stories 
did  not  frighten  the  travelers.  So  after  giving 
the  Indians  a  few  presents,  and  putting  their  trust 
in  the  ])Owers  above,  continued  on  their  way. 
Passing  up  Fox  ri\  cr,  and  dragging  their  canoes 
across  the  portage,  they  floated  down  the  Wis- 
consin. After  j(un'neying  many  days,  the  j'ivei' 
blullis  on  each  side  disa]»]»eared,  o})ening  uj)  to 
their  view  a  lai'ge  })lain,  while  ahead  of  them  was 
observed  a  high  range  of  wooded  hills.  While 
viewing  the  wild  scone  around  them,  theii*  canoes 
entered  the  broad  Mississippi,  and  they  found 
themselves  u[)on  the  Father  of  Waters, 

The  voyageurs  landed  from  their  canoes,  raised 
a  cross  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  sang  pi'aises 
to  the  Holy   Virgin  for  her  guidance  and   [)rotec- 


VER. 


DISCOVERY  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER. 


31 


on  their 
.    They 
,he  great 
who  put 
as  tViil  of 
)re  hirge 
contents. 
cs  by  the 
,8  so  loud 
loes  pass- 
ream  was 
vould  en- 
iil   stories 
ler  giving 
leir  trust 
leir  way. 
ir  canoes 
le  Wis- 
th(!   river 
ig   up  to 
them  was 
While 
,>ir  canoes 
'V    found 

es,  raised 
ig  praises 
(1   protee- 


tion  thus  far  on  their  journey.  Fatlier  Manjuette 
pronounced  a  blessing  on  the  river,  and  christen- 
(!(!  it  with  the  most  sacred  name  of  "Immaculate 
Conception."  After  spending  one  day  in  fasting 
and  prayer,  their  canoes  wei-e  again  put  on  the 
water,  and  they  commenced  descending  the  river. 
As  they  were  floating  down  the  stream,  tjiey 
discovered  ou  the  east  bank,  near  whei-e  the  city 
of  Alton  now  stands,  a  high  clilfof  rocks  I'i^itig 
from  the  river  U{]^c  in  bold  relief,  while  its  Image 
was  retlecte(l  from  the  clear  waters  of  the  Missis- 
sipi>i.  This  ch'll,  for  numy  years  afterward,  was 
known  as  the  ''  Ruined  Castle,"  and  is  the  site  of 
a  thrillliuj-  le<j-end  in  Indian  tradition.  On  land- 
ing  here,  they  beheM  a  sight  wliich  reminded 
tliem  that  the  de\il  was  lord  of  the  WMld(;rn{\'^s. 
On  the  surface  of  the  r(>ck,  next  to  tin;  water, 
was  ]iaint(.'d  in  rid,  black  and  green,  a  j)air  of 
nn Misters,  each  of  which  was  as  large  as  an  ox, 
with  horns  like  an  elk,  heads  like  a  tiger,  an«l 
with  frightlul  ex})ression  of  countenance.  TUc 
face  of  these  monsters  resembled  that  of  a  man — 
the  body  covered  with  scales  likeafish — an<l  with 
tails  so  long  that  they  reached  three  times  around 
th(!  body.  These  terrible  looking  monsters  (re|>- 
resenting  Indian  gods),  so  frightened  Father  Mar- 
(piette  tliai  he  He*!  from  the  phiee  in  terroc,  and 
iiastene(l  on  board  of  iiis  {!aiU)e. 


11 


: 


32        FRENCn  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

As  the  travelers  were  passing  down  the  river, 
conversing  a])ont  tlie  liideons  ])aiiitini>:  oji  tlie 
rock,  tliey  were  suddenly  aroused  to  real  danger. 
Here  a  torrent  of  dark  muddy  water  cjinie  rush- 
ing  across  the  clear  current  of  the  Mississi}>})i, 
boiling  and  surging,  sweeping  in  its  course  Ings, 
brush  and  uprooted  trees.  Their  light  Imrk  ca- 
noes were  whirled  about  on  the  dark  angry  Avater 
like  a  snuill  twig  in  a  swollen  brook,  and  with 
great  difficulty  their  small  crafts  were  ke})t  from 
swanipiii":  in  the  frnmini;  billows.  Thev  h;id 
])assed  the  mouth  <>i  the  Missouri  river,  and  with 
great  rapidity  theii'  can(X\s  floated  down  the  I'apid 
stream. 

The  travelers  descended  the  Mississi])pi  about 
one  thousand  miles,  to  its  junction  with  the  Ar- 
kansas, when  they  tui'ued  their  cano(!s  up  stream, 
and  returned  to  Canada,  as  has  Imx'U  pi-eviouwiy 
stated. 


CIIAPTEIi  HE. 


ILLINOIS  INDIANS. 


I|'('\  IMllSlV 


Tlio  Illinois  fiidians  wore  of  the  Algoiujuiii 
fiiinily,  .'uid  consislccl  of  (iva  (iistinct  hands, 
named  as  follows:  Kaskaskias,  Calioliias,  ]\'<»rias, 
Tainantas,  and  Miekii'aniies.  The  three  fciiner 
trihes  (tceupied  the  vlila^'os  l»earii]<i-  their  i'e>|iri'- 
tive  names,  and  llie  two  latter  the  eotnitry  iioi'tli 
of  Peoria  Lake. 

Aceordiiiij!;  to  the  statements  of  early  Kreneh 
ex])lorers,  these  Indians  wei'e  the  most  nnnierons 
of  all  the  trihes  of  the  west,  oeeupyini^'  the  eonn- 
try  from  Lake  Miehii;'an  to  the  Mississippi 
river,  and  from  Koek  river  to  the  nioutli  of  the 
Ohio,  heini,^  almost  the  entire  territory  now  iii- 
ehided  within  the  State  of  Illinois.  Over  tins 
vast  eonntry  herds  of  huffalo  roamed  for  their 
henefit,  ami  the  many  rivers  were  navi^^-ated  hy 
their  bark  canoes  onlv.  From  the  numerous 
grttves  the  smoke  from  their  camp  tires   was  seen 


B4 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


to  ascend,  unci  the  lonely  forest  re-eclioud  the 
report  of  their  riiles,  as  well  as  theii"  wild  war 
whoops. 

They  had  many  towns  along-  the  Illinois  river, 
the  largest  and  principal  one  was  La  Vantuni, 
which  was  located  near  the  })resent  site  of  Utica, 
an  account  of  which  will  be  given  hereafter. 

On  account  of  the  gi'eat  abnndauce  of  game 
(it  being  known  far  and  near  as  the  bnll'alo  coun- 
try), neighboring  ti'ibesfrc(piently  made  this  their 
liuntinij:  grounds,  and  although  the  Illinois  In- 
diaiis  were  not  a  warlike  people,  still  they  would 
resent  an  encroachment  upon  their  rights,  conse- 
quently they  were  often  at  war  with  other  tribes. 

The  Iro(|Uois  from  the  east  made  frecjuent  raids 
on  the  Illinois  Indians,  destrovinii'  their  towns, 
killing  squaws  and  pappooscs,  and  carrying  away 
large  (piantities  of  pelts  and  fui's,  which  they  sold 
to  French  and  English  traders. 

According  to  tradition,  the  Iroquois,  in  one  of 
these  raids,  carried  oif  eight  hundred  i)risoners, 
princii)ally  S(piaws  and  pa})[)ooses,  ami  burned 
them  at  their  village  (,>n  the  bank  of  Seueca  Lake. 
The  Iro(piois  Indiaiirs  having  l)een  in  trade  with 
the  Dutch  at  Albany,  and  the  French  in  Canada, 


liad 
tl 


b^ 


armec 


lem  ii're 


1    tl 
at  ad 


lemselves  with 


;uns,    wUieli     <{ave 


vantage  over  the  Illinois,  who  nse< 


111 


ir>' 


)ows  and  arrows  on 


ly.     Tl 


lese  war  parties  ol'  the 


VER. 

jed  tlie 
ikl  war 

lis  river, 
r^'antuni, 
if  U  tica, 
'ter. 

of  j^riine 
.lo  C'oun- 
,liis  their 
iiois  In- 
y  would 
s,  coriBe- 
fv  trihovS. 
ei it  raids 
towns, 
o-  away 
ley  sold 

n  one  of 
risoners, 

liurned 
•a  Lake. 

[e  witii 
Canada, 

1    gave 

i<»  used 
s  «»f  the 


LA  VANTUM,  OR  GREAT  ILLINOIS  TOWN. 


35 


Ii(»|ii()ir>  created  set  nuuili  terror  anions;'  tlie  llli- 
iM»is,  lliat  tlun'  would  llee  at  tlieir  ajiproaeh 
without  oderinn'to  i!;ive  tlieni  hatth'.  On  account 
of  tlicsc  fre<juent  raids,  the  lUinois  were  nuicli 
reduced  in  nunihers,  which  caused  tliem  to  fall  an 
easy  prey  to  the  neii^hhorinii:  tribes  some  years 
afterwards. 

A  little  over  a  century  ago,  a  nuiuber  of  tribes 
(•(•nihined,  rorming  an  alhance  ai^^'unst  the  Illi- 
nois, whicrh  resulted  in  their  anniliilation,  and  the 
occupation  of  their  country  by  their  enemies,  as 
will  he  shown  in  the  sccpiel. 

LA  VANTUM,  OR  GREAT  ILLINOIS  TOW^N. 

The  name  of  La  Vantuni  was  applied  to  the 
i^reat  town  of  Illinois  Lidiaris,  more  than  a  cen- 
tury ago,  by  tlie  P^'rench  and  bait-breeds  at  Peoria. 
The  origin  of  the  name  is  not  known,  but  is  said 
to  he  a  cond)ination  of  a  French  and  Lidian  word, 
and  means  a  great  place,  a  large  town,  capital  of 
the  tribe,  Arc.  In  letters  written  by  Jesuits  and 
early  explorers,  it  is  spoken  of  as  the  great  town 
of  the  west,  and  the  chiefs  of  otliei'  villages  met 
here  for  council.  Joliet  called  this  place  Kaskas- 
kia,  but  by  La  Salle  and  subse<pient  explorers,  it 
was  known  as  the  great  Illinois  town.  According 
to  the  statements  of  early  explorers,  this  was  the 


V 


36        FKENCH   AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

I;ii*;:rst  town  in  tlie  wcsUmmi  coiinlrv,  l)ciiii»"  fliu 
hi!ii(|(|U{irtL'rs  oi' tli(!  Illiiinis  Iiidiaiis,  ;iii<l  the  seitl 
of  their  trade.  Tlie  iiiiiriher  of  its  iiihahitaiils 
have  l)e(!ii  variously  eHtinuiteil,  raii^in^''  from  live 
to  ei«;'ht  tlioiisaiid.  Manjuette  says  he  found 
here  five  hundi-ed  chiefs  and  (»hl  warrioi's,  ami 
(ifleeii  hundred  hraves<»r  \'>>uiii;- warriors.  Si^veii 
yeai's  allerward  Father  Il('iiJiej»in  counted  f»tui' 
hnndred  and  sixt  y-ei<»;lit  l(»dges,   and   tliese  euii- 


tained  from  two  to  four 


famil 


les  each. 


Otl 


ler  ae- 


coiints   ai'e  u'iv'en   of  it  as    heini:'   a  lari.''e   town, 

oecuj)virig  the  river  hank  for  mo.e   tlian  a  mile, 

and  (\\tendin<j;  hack  some  distance  on  tin*  praii'ie. 

This  <j:reat  Indian   town  of  tlie  west  iias  kuif;' 


di 


■ared, 


dl 


r  th 


since  disappeared,  and  like  many  ol  the  I'uiiicfl 
(jities  of  the  old  woi'ld,  histoi'j  and  tradition  aiike 
fail  to  point  out  its  exact  location.  Some  ha\e 
located  it  a  little  helow  Buffalo  Rock,  and  others 
near  the  mouth  of  Little  Vermillion,  as  many  In- 
dian j'elies  are  found  athoth  of  these  places.  But 
in  comparinj::  the  different  accounts  given  of  this 
town,  from  its  first  discovery  by  Joliet  to  the 
time  of  its  final  destruction,  a  period  of  near  one 
hundi'ed  vcars,  it  is  shown  conclusively  to  have 
stood  on  or  neai*   the  ])resent  site  of  old   Utica. 


Ilistd 


>i'y  says  it  was  on  the  north  hank  of  the  river, 
in  [)lain  view  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  the  French 
passed  to  and  from  it  in  their  canoes. 


in 


r-A    VANTITM,  oil  (}KKAT  IMJXOIS  TOWN. 


04 


On  I  he  iioi'tli  side  (tl"  tli(^  ri\  ci- is  a  lai'i','*' 1)<>tl(»m 
jitairH'.  alxMit  nine  inile>  in  k'nijtli  and  (Uie  in 
hrcadlli,  cxtcndiiiir  lV»iin    llir   river  to  llie   MulV, 

l!i  of  Little  Vermillion  to  I)ni- 


an( 


I  i) 


tl 


I'.Mn  tlie  niou 


Falo  Roek.  Neartlie  middle  of  tliin  [>i';urie,  and 
a  few  hundred  yard>  below  the  rapids,  the  river 
is  confined  into  a  deep,  nai'row  channel.  Here 
the  hank  rises  i!ra<lually  from  the  water's  e(l_H-e 
until  it  rt'aches  the  hitdi  hmd  in  the  reai',  f'ormin<;• 
a  sloping  {)liitean,  which  is  elevated  ahove  the 
lloods  of  the  Illiin>is,  and  for  Iteauty  of  location 
is  scarcely  surtiassed  hv  aiiv  place  on  the  river. 
Forty  years  ago  this  point  was  considered  the 
head  of  navigation,  and  eonsequcntly  the  terminus 
of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  In  18o4  a 
town  was  laid  olV  here  by  Simon  Cro/ier,  and 
everyl)ody  prophesied  that  it  was  destined  to  he 
a  lai'ge  city.  Steand>oat>  at  St.  Louis  put  out 
their  sign  for  L^tica,  and  travelers  for  the  lake 
I'ount ry  and  eastwanl  bouml,  would  land  here, 
aiul  thence   j»roceed   hy  stage  to  Chicago.     Corn 


is  now  rai>ed   on  this  town  site,  t 
<li]a|)idated   buildin 


ih 


wo  or  lliree  o 


.Id 


'Ij 


lii's  onlv    remain  ot   niis    once 


f  ih 


great  |)a])er  city,  and  Utiea,  like  its  j.redeccssor, 
La  Vantum,  exists  oidy  in  historv. 


Felix    La  Pan 


ee, 


I 


relicli 


trad 


er  a 


t    P 


eoria, 


frequently  visited  this  town,  it  being  on  his  route 
to  and  from  Catuida.     And  he  ti-aded  with  these 


38       FRENCH   AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


'I 

■I 


Indluiis  Iroiii  1751  t(t  1768,  tukiiii;-  tlicii'  fiii-swilli 
liiiii  oil  his  {iimuiil  trlj)  to  Cutiada,  and  ])ayiii^  tor 
tlicm  in  jii^oodH  oti  liib  return.  Sonic  account  of 
tliia  town  is  t'oiind  among  liis  papers  in  tlic  i>os- 
scssion  of  liis  descondants,  m'Iio  arc  now  livirii^  on 
tlic  American  JJottoni.  This  account  says  the 
town  contained  from  five  to  six  hundred  lo(l<j!;ca, 
stan(Hn<>'  Hh)n<^  tlie  river  bank  for  more  than  a 
mile  ih  extent.  J>ack  on  the  prairie  were  a  larii'c 
numlier  of  wi^ii;wams,  or  caiKping  tents,  occupied 
part  of  tlie  year  by  j)Co})le  from  the  nei<^diboriiii;' 


vilhiges,  who  came  licre  each  year  to  raise  coi-n. 
Tile  town  contained  from  live  to  eight  thousand 
inliabitants,  but  at  tlie  time  of  holding  their  an- 
nual feast,  nearly  all  the  Illinois  nations  collected 
here.  On  the  river  bank,  about  the  middle  of  the 
town,  stood  their  great  council-house,  surrounded 
])y  stockades  and  various  kinds  of  fortiiications. 

The  town  was  shaded  by  a  tew  out-spreading 
oaks,  in  the  midst  of  which,  and  close  to  the  river 
bank,  was  a  large  sj)ring  of  cold  water.  No  trees 
are  here  at  the  prcs(>nt  time,  but  there  might 
have  been  in  former  <lays,  and  killed  by  fire  on  the 
prairie  after  the  town  was  abandoned.  The  spring 
spoken  of  by  La  Paiice  cannot  be  found  on  the 
old  town  site,  but  whoe\  cr   will  take  the  trouble 


to  examine  the  river  at  this 


poi 


n 


t  wl 


len  it  is  low 


will  observe  a  short  distance  from  shore  the  bub- 


LA  VANTUM,  OR  OKEAT  ILLINOIS  TOWN, 


39 


).s- 


■1 


lilcs  IVniiia  sj>i-iiig  under  vvjitci'.  WuIki,  iui  Iii(li;ui 
cliicf,  vvlio  was  rained  iiui  villui^e  near  tlio  nioiitli 
(»l  Fox  i-iver,  said  to  one  (»("  t lie  fur  traders,  while 
s|i(';ikini;-  (»t'this  town:  In  liis  l)()ylio(>d  (lays there 
w.is  \\('vv  bv  the  side  of  the  trail  a  larjze  s[)rin^'  <>[' 
cnld  water,  aii<l  Indians  in  ])assiji<^'  hjiek  and  Ibrth 
would  sto[)  here  to  driid-:,  but  afterwards  it  disa[)- 
]»eai'(Ml  and  came  out  under  the  river. 

A  short  distaiu'e  from  the  river,  and  back  of  the 
old  town  site,  is  a  ran^-e  of  gravelly  knolls,  where 
the  Indians  had  their  caches  or  subterranean  store- 
houses, for  dejxxsitiui;'  corn.  The  remains  of 
these  caches  were  })lain  to  be  seen  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  country,  and  in  a  few  instances 
these  I'clics  still  exist.  On  the  bottom  prairie, 
ab(»\c  and  below  the  town,  for  miles  in  extent,  lay 
th(.'ir  coru-tields,  and  east  of  these  was  their  race- 
course, which  could  be  traced  out  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  country.  Forty  years  ago  this 
]>rairie  showed  unmistakable  signs  of  having  been 
cultivated.  \Yeeds  were  found  growing  here, 
which  botanists  say  are  never  found  on  the  prairie, 
except  where  the  sod  has  been  broken* 

*It  is  said  that  llio  iiuUans  from  tlic  uoiylibnrliiti;  villntcesramo 
lu'ie  (lurinf^  the  summer  to  raiWH  corn,  us  ttio  liiiid  was  tli(>iiy;hl 
to  proiiiici- Ix'tttM-  crops  tl\an  flscwlicrc.  'i'li<>  FrcMcli  occupied 
tills  pla<-('  for  lliirty-six  years,  and  many  of  iliein  livf<i  In  the 
town  Willi  the  liKUans,  and  were  more  or  less  engaged  in  aucri- 
<nUiual  pursuits,  wliich  may  account  for  the  large  amount  of 
luuU  under  cultivation. 


nff 


40      fi:kn(mi  and  inpianh  of  ifj.inois  uivkr. 


Tlio  lii;rli  laii<l  aliovr  jiiid  Kclow  tin;  town  site 
iij»|icar>  t<»  have  Ik'imi  uscil  as  a  l»iiryiii^'  <^I'(>iiihI, 
oil  wliicli  many  ^^keI(Jt<Jlls  liave  Ix-cti  (wIuuikhI, 
aii<l  various  kinds  ol  relics  t'ouiid.  .lames  (/lark, 
wlio  <Avii.-  a  lai'n'c  faiMii  liciv, shns  ('\(;rv  vear .small 
[lic'ct'S  ul' Inmiaii  Im.iics,  teeth,  heads,  ari'ow  heails, 
Scr..  as  well  as  iinnlenieiits  oC  liidinii  and  Kiiio- 
peaii  inaniitaetui'e,  are  )tlowe(l  ii]».  Ileic  in  this 
hnrvinj/iiToiind,  in  all  {n'ohahilit y,  niany  thousand 
hnnian  heini:;s  found  a  l()n;Li'  I'estinii'  place,  and  thu 
hones  ut*  posterity  mingled  with  llio-e  of  their 
ancestors.  And  ln're  are  still  tohe^eena  ir.nnher 
of  artificial  moinuK,  sujtjxtsed  t(»  have  heen  erected 
o\er  the  remains  of  cliiels  or  li'reat  waniors  of 
}»ast  ai^es.  Ahont  sixty  years  aiio  Waha,  a  imted 
Indian  chief,  <)[>ene<l  two  of  th(  se  mounds,  from 
which  he  took  a  nuniitei'  of  valuaiile  trinkets, 
consisting  of  gold  and  silver  medals,  crosses, 
crucifixes,  tfcc.  Among  the  triid<et.s  found  here 
was  a  silver  medallion  head  of  Louis  XIV,  heai'ing 
ilate  1()70,  three  years  hefore  Manpiette  visited 
this  place,  and  in  all  probabilit)'  it  was  given  to  a 
convert  by  that  lioly  father. 

Here  at  this  great  town  a  large  })ortion  of  the 
Illinois  Indians  would  collect  during  the  summer 
for  the  }>ur[»ose  of  lishing  and  raising  corn,  and 
here  w^ere  held  their  annual  religious  feasts  and 
war  dances.     During  the  winter  months  the  In- 


st 

ft 

ft 
f 


'^ 
h 


\ 
^ 


v 
^ 


i 


J 


I. A    VANTU.Nf,  <»U  UKKA  r   II.I.INoIH  T(»\VN. 


II 


I, 


« 


<li;iii>  w<»iil<I  leave  tlicii'  town  Inr  Lake  Wiin«. 
,-ilii.itr-l  alMdil  ('Ml'  <lavs  jniiincv  \vc>tvvaiil,  Im 
llir  |>ur|i<»si'  ofet^lk'ctiii^'  lui's,  a!i(l  ivliini  lo  tlii-ir 
villa:;e  in  carlv  s]»riii^.* 

*A<'i-<»r<Iiiii.' Ill  Indinn  ti-itililloii,  tln'rc  wfts  a  liiUo  aliout  nine 
l<>iiuiii-<  uot  of  ilii' ui'imI  lii'iiil  ill  the  Illinois  riv<r,  vvlii-rc  llu- 
ImiiJiiiH  w«'iit  f'Mch  wllltfT  to  colloct  liirs.  Tli<>  1  iidiuis  i:illiil  it 
l.ukf  NVi-no,  ii  plsio' ul'  iiiucli  tf.iiiu'),  ami  iiiaiiy  aliiisiou.s  .in- 
iiiitilf  iM  II  !•>  tlK'lirsl   lii'iicli  lur  tradns. 

Nojsnrh  lakf  now  fxists,  bill  il  is((iiiti'  prolialiif  tlial  llifif 
was  nn«' in  foriiuT  tiiiK's,  aloiiy  tlu-  vaijey  otiiifcii  iiv«'r,  as 
many  (luni.'>  arc  lound  here  to  iiiaUi'  this  tlitory  plaiisllilts- 
Tli»'i«'  is  a  place  in  n«-niy  founty  wlilcJi  shows  marks  ol  having 
Itffti  a  natural  dHiu  or  ohstnu-lion  of  the  river,  (•ausin;^  tin- 
sallty  ahovf  tolx-  inuinlatfil  Many  tilings  iiKllcati-  that  a  lai^f 
portion  ol  lint-n  river  vaJley  was  once  covered  with  water, 
lorininii  a  1  ike  thirty  miles  or  more  in  len^Mi,  and  Irom  one  lo 
tliree  in  widlh.  'I'he  lioundaries  ol  tliis  laUearenow  plain  to 
he  Kefi.,  l>y  perniiar  stratus  ol'^'arth,  which  ^eoloiiists  assert  are 
never  loniid  except  where  water  onct^  stootl.  On  hoth  sides  of 
tli>'  ri\  er.  alonj:  sIoii<;hsand  small  streams,  are  seen  the  remaiiiK 
ol  Ilea  vf r  daiiis,  whicli  are  su  eonunon  on  the  nuirtiin  ol  west- 
tin  lakes. 

When  the  tioverninent  surveys  were  inade  alom;  tiie  valley 
of<ir«'en  riNer,  in  th'- year  IS'Jl,  those  haviiit;  (diariie  of  it  re- 
turned in  their  notes  and  so  platte<l  many  lakes  where  section 
corners  could  not  be  made,  and  in  maps  drawn  at  that  time  is 
shown  almost  a  complete  sheet  of  water.  .Many  pla<'es 
aioii^  this  valley,  which  were  covered  with  water  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  country,  are  now  onlv  luiirsh  land,  siibji'ct  to 
o<-casirinaI  overllow.  and  in  time  will  bt;  brought  nnder  cult  i  va- 
lion.  Tl.eMbsirn<;i(;n  in  the  river  below  havinti  worn  ilown  by 
lime,  and  the  valley  filliiii:  up  by  washini;s,  would  cause  the 
lake  to  disapivar  ainl  leavi'  it  as  now  seen. 

Weuo  [,ake  is  .--aid  to  iiave  aboimiled  with  beaver,  otter  and 
iiiii.>krat  ;  the  iwo  latter  were  plenty  here  in  ihe  early  .seiile- 
nieiit  of  ilie  country,  but  the  former  had  di.sappeured. 


h 


Oil  APT  Ell  IV. 


nil 


THK  CROSS  RAISED  ON  TIIK  RANK  OF  CHICAGO  RIVER. 

Fatlier  Mar<[ueLt(j    rciiiained  at  Given  Ixiy  out 
a  short  time,  his  liealtli  hoiiiij:  had,  and  tlie  Win- 


loh 


Ii 


it! 


(I 


iioi)ai!;o  iiKliaiis  witli  wJioiii  he  sojoiirnca  wore 
unwilling  to  al)an{lun  the  religion  ol*  their  t'utliers 
for  that  of  Chrit^tianity.  It  '  ir.in'  i'npressed  on 
the  mind  of  Mar<|uette  th'i^  his  stay  on  earth 
would  he  short,  and   hefore  dopartinji;  henee   he 


felt  it  his  duty  to  ai;'ain  visit  the  Illinois  Indians, 
and  annnii!^  them  estahlish  a  mission  in  honor  of 
tlie  Holy  Virii:in. 

Late  in  Novemhcr  Marquette  left  Green  Bay, 
aecom])anied  by  two  of  his  eountrvmcMi,  Pierre 
and  Jac(jucs,  together  with  two  Winnehago 
Indians.  The  W(3ath(u"  was  eold,  the  winds  higli, 
and  it  was  with  t;i"eat  ditlicultv  thev  coasted  aloniji: 
the  western  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  Frei|uently 
the  travelers  would  be  compelled  to  land  from  the 


THE  CROSS  RAISED  ON  OIIICAOO  RIVER. 


43 


turbulent  water,  draw  tlieii-  (.'anoc  on  the  bcacii, 
and  wait  t(«i'  the  winds  and  waves  to  subside. 

Al'tcr  a  loni:' perilous  vt>\-ai';e  on  Lake  Miclii^-an, 
the  travelers  reached  the  mouth  ol' (^hieago  river, 
and  aseendt'd  it  about  three  leai;ues  to  a  grove  of 
tiiuber  above  tlie  })resent  site  of  J^ridgeport. 
Here  Marquette  was  taken  very  sick,  so  the  j)arty 
could  go  no  furtlier  on  their  way  until  he  rec(»v- 
(M'cd.  Winter  now  set  in,  the  river  froze  up,  and 
the  i>rairie  and  groves  were  covered  with  snow 
and  ice.  Near  the  river  !)ank  the  companions  of 
Manpietle  built  a  hut,  covering  and  siding  itwitli 
bulValo  skins,  and  here  they  lived  about  three 
months. 

HutFalo  and  deer  were  ]>lenty,  and  the  Indians 
from  a  neighboring  village  supplied  tlieni  with 
corn,  h(»ney  and  nuiple  sugar,  so  they  did  not  lack 
Ibr  the  necessaries  of  litcv  P'or  many  days  Mar- 
<pielte  was  prostrated  by  disease  so  lu^  could  not 
rise  fn»ni  his  couch,  and  his  friends  believed  tliat 
his  time  of  departure  was  nigh.  Having  a  great 
desire  to  establish  a  mission  among  the  Indians 
helore  he  <iied,  he  begged  his  two  companions  — 
Pierre  and  Jacques— to  j'oin  hiiu  in  idiu'  days' 
devotion  to  the  Virgin,  and  through  iier  inter- 
position his  disease  relented,  an<l  he  gaim!<l 
stri'iigtli  daily. 

Indians  IVom    a     village    two   leagues   distant, 


44        FRKNCIT  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


i'ro'juoiitly  visited  their  lint,  and  Marcjuctte,  feel)lc 
as  lie  was,  preached  to  them,  and  by  the  power  of 
his  eloquence  many  l)ecame  Christians.  Near 
their  Imt  they  built  of  cottoiuvood  poles  a  tempo- 
rary altar,  and  over  which  was  raised  a  large 
wooden  cross.  The  converted  Indians  were 
taught  to  look  upon  this  cross  while  ju'ayin^'',  and 
therel)y  all  their  sins  were  remitted.     Many  mii*- 


acles  are  sau 


1  to  1 


lave  been  wrouii' 


ht 


amoiiir 


the 


Indians  by  looking  upon  this  sacred  talisman — 
the  blind  were  made  to  see  and  the  sick  restored 
to  health.  For  nniny  days  the  Indians  continued 
to      worship    at    the    altar,    Father    Manpiette 


pi'e; 


'.] 


icniuir 


aiu 


1     1; 


^y 


mir 


1 


us 


handf 


on 


tl 


leu' 


heads,  M'ould  b«^stow  his  blessin^ii;  on  them.  A 
beloved  chief,  who  for  years  had  been  alHicted 
with  a  demon  in  hi>  back,  so  he  could  not  raise 
from  his  couch,  was  cari'ied  to  Manjuette,  and 
when  the  holy  fathei'  laid  his  liands  upon  him,  in 
the  name  (»f  the  Virgin,  the  demon  dei)arted  and 
the  chief  was  restt)red  to  health. 

In  March  the  country  was  Hooded  with  water, 
and  Marquette's  health  being  j)artially  restored, 
they  put  their  canoe  on  the  river  ;md  cominued 
tluur  journey  westward.  Although  Marquiilte 
was  gone,  his  magic  j)owei-  ovei-  the  Incbans  re- 
mained. They  hallowed  the  spot  where  the  altar 
stood,  and  when  the  rude  structure  n^ted  down. 


THE  CROSS  RAISED  ON  CHICAGO  RIVER. 


45 


tliey  erected  an  earthen  mound  on  its  site,  so  tlie 
s[)ot  shoidd  not  be  tor<j;'otten  by  eonnng  genera- 
tions. Altlioiigh  two  centuries  liave  passed  away, 
tin's  mound  is  still  to  be  seen,  and  amoii'^  tlie 
French  and  Indians  there  ai'e  many  remarkable 
traditions  in  reUition  to  it.  The  Indians  from 
<'!i]l('rent  villages,  according  to  tradition,  were  in 
tlie  hidjit  of  collecting  liere  once  a  year — on  tlic; 
liftli  day  of  the  tenth  moon — and  olfer  n]>  ]>rayers 
and  sacrifices  to  the  Great  Manito  of  tlie  French, 
in  order  tliat  they  might  be  successful  in  war, 
tislnng,  limiting,  Arc. 

Abtuit  iifty  years  after  Man^uette  had  I'aisetl 
the  cross  here,  Charlevoix,  with  a  party  of  Frcncli 
explorers,  visited  this  c(»untry,  and  while  rowing 
their  canoes  up  tlie  (>hicago  rivci-  they  found  col- 
lectt^l  on  this  -pot  a  large  bo<ly  of  Indians, 
en^i-at'ed  in  devotional  exercises.  On  the  mound 
stood  a  wooden  ci'oss,  partly  covered  with  a  bear 
skin,  and  around  it  the  Indians  were  kneeling  in 
prayer.  Charlevoix  and  friencks  landed  from 
their  caniM's,  and  spent  the  day  wors]ii})ing  with 
tlie  Indians,  and  to  them  Fath(;r  Canabe,  a  Jesuit 
lii'iest,  a(bninistered  the  sacrament.* 


■*ni  the  oiirly  setneiiioiit  or  ("hlfjigo,  this  pluco  wiis.  known  to 
many  of  the  Krencli  (Jutliolics,  some  of  whom  visited  it  in 
memory  of  its  suinti'd  fnumlei-  -  Kutliti'  Murciuttle.  This  pliice 
Wiis  lilt' seeiiiMtf  iinotlu'r  lemarkiililo  incident,  wliicli  will  iip- 
pear  lii  uaollier  purl  ol  this  book. 


46         FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVElJ. 


MISSION  OF  IMMACULATE   CONCEPTION. 


M' i 


rn 


n 


le  winter  was  now  over,  snow  and  ice 


liad 


di8Ji[)peared  from  the  prairies,  and  tlie  wjirnn  sun 
of  early  sprini;"  not  only  animated  nature,  hut  it 
gave  strength  and  vitality  to  Father  Manjuette. 
His  cough  liad  alnn^st  ceased ;  his  tall,  manly 
form,  which  had  been  bent  by  rheumatism,  was 
now  erect,  and  he  sang  songs  of  praise  to  the 
IToly  Virgin  for  his  restoration  to  health.  After 
taking  an  affectionate  farewell  of  the  Indians, 
Manpiette,  with  his  two  companions,  ^eft  in  their 


bark 


canoe 


Witl 


1  sai 


for  tl 
1  and 


le  gre 
oars 


[It  111 
the 


inois  town. 


voya 


ireurs  uri>' 


edtl 


101  r 


canoe  down  the  Illinois  river,  while  the  surmund- 
ing  wockIs  re-echoed  their  songs  of  praise.  Birds 
were  singing  among  the  branches  of  trees,  S(|uir- 
rels  chiri)ing  in  the  groves,  while  elk  and  deer 
bounde<l  away  at  the  sound  of  the  approaching 
canoe.  Swans,  pelicans  and  wild  geese  would 
rise  from  the  water  and  tiy  squawking  down 
stream,  while  beaver  and  otter  were  spoi'ting  in 


tl 


le  river,  and  uivinii"  uiu 
tl 


der  tl 


leir  canoe. 


F 


rir  am 


1 


near  tne  i)ranMe  was  eovere( 


1  with  buffalo 


-ome 


basking  in  the  sun,  while  others  were  feeding  on 
the  early  spring  grass.  Morning  and  evening 
hmg  lines  of  bulfalo  w(!re  seen  coming  to  the 
river  t*>   drink,  sometimes  swimmina'the  stream 


\^y 


MISSION  OF  IMMACULATE    CONCEPTION. 


47 


or  climbing  the  Isaiiks  and  shaking  tlie  water  from 
their  shaggy  sides,  wliile  gazing  wiklly  at  the 
passing  canoe. 

When  Marquette  arrived  at  La  Vantnm,  the 
Indians  received  him  as  though  lie  was  an  angel 
from  heaven,  some  of  whom  fell  on  their  knees 
before  him,  asking  forgiveness  for  past  sins. 
Chassagoac,  the  head  chief,  who  Marquette  had 
baptized  the  year  before,  was  so  delighted  at  meet- 
ing the  holy  father  that  he  embraced  him  and 
wept  for  joy. 

On  the  day  following  Marquette's  arrival,  all  the 
Indians,  both  old  and  young,  assembled  on  the 
meadow  above  the  town  to  hear  good  tidings 
from  the  great  French  Manito,  (the  name  given 
to  Jesus  Christ).  Around  Marquette  were  seated 
on  the  ground  five  hundred  old  chiefs  and  war- 
riors, and  behind  tl^em  stood  lifteen  hundred 
young  braves,  while  back  of  these  were  c^  Uected 
all  the  squaws  and  pappooses  of  the  town.  Mar- 
quette, standing  in  the  midst  of  this  vast  assembly, 
displayed  to  them  two  pictures  painted  on  canvas, 
one  of  tho  Virgin  and  the  other  of  Jesus  Christ, 
telling  them  of  God,  of  heaven,  and  of  hell, 
when  all  the  Indians  claj^pcd  tlicir  hands  and 
shouted  for  joy.  By  direction  of  Marquette,  the 
Indians  tore  down  the  temple  and  images  erected 
to  the  god   of  war,  and  built  a  chapel  on  its  site. 


■■ 


48        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVEK. 

This  chapel  was  constructed  l)y  setting  poles  in 
the  ground,  siding  and  covering  it  with  elk  and 
deer  skins.  Notwithstanding  it  was  verv  large — 
capable  of  holding  one  thousand  or  more  persons 
— so  many  workmen  were  employed  that  it  was 
completed  on  the  third  day.  When  the  house  of 
God  was  seadv  tor  use,  all  the  chiefs  and  old 
warriors  ;  s'^^  •-(!  therein,  when  Mar<juette  ded- 
icated it  in  la»iiOi  v»f  the  Holy  Virgin,  giving  it 
the  same  na.ie  that  he  had  already  given  to  the 
Mississippi  river     ^'Ti.'  immaculate  Conception." 

Every  day  the  chapel  way  tilled  with  Indians, 
and  Marquette  preached  to  them,  calling  on  the 
warrioi's  to  forsake  the  religion  of  their  fathers 
and  end)race  Christianity.  Many  came  forward 
and  joined  the  church,  and  one  hundred  or 
more  were  baptized  at  a  time.  For  a  number  of 
weeks  Marquette  preached  daily  to  the  Indians, 
l)aptiziug  and  instructing  them  in  the  wars  of 
Christianity. 

On  Easter  Sunday  tlie  chapel  was  decorated 
with  evergreens,  representing  crosses,  anchors, 
crucifixes,  &c.  lm;ense  was  burned  on  the  altar, 
and  lights  were  kept  burning  during  the  day,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  Catholic  church. 
The  woods  fai"  and  near  had  been  searched  for 
geese  and  turkey  eggs,  which  were  beautifidly 
colored  and  distributed  among  the  converts,  in 


MISSION  OF  IMMACULATE    CONCEPTION. 


49 


commemoration  of  Christ's  resurrection.  The  day 
was  a  joyous  one  for  the  Indians,  and  it  was  long 
remembered  by  them,  but  with  it  ended  the 
ministry  of  Marquette  among  the  red  men  of  the 
west. 

Spring  bad  now  come  ;  the  groves  were  once 
more  green,  and  the  prairie  was  covered  with  grass 
and  flowers,  but  it  did  not  bring  health  and  vigor 
to  the  fast-failing  priest.  His  disease  had  again 
returned  in  its  worst  form,  and  he  felt  that  his  life 
was  fast  passing  away.  After  spending  two  days 
and  nights  in  prayer,  communing  with  Christ  and 
the  Holy  Virgin,  he  concluded  to  return  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  could  receive  the  sacrament  from 
the  hands  of  his  brethren  before  he  died. 

On  the  third  week  after  Easter,  the  Indians 
were  assembled  in  the  chapel,  when  Marquette, 
pale  and  feeble  as  he  was,  instructed  them  in  the 
ways  of  Christianity,  telling  them  that  he  was 
about  to  depart  for  Canada,  but  promised  to  send 
a  priest  to  teach  them  in  the  ways  of  salvation. 
The  Indians  heard  the  news  in  sadness,  gathering 
around  the  holy  father,  and  begged  him  to  remain 
with  them.  But  he  told  them  that  his  work  was 
ended — that  a  tew  weeks  would  close  his  pilgrim- 
age here  on  earth,  and  before  he  departed  hence 
he  desired  to  return  to  Canada,  and  there  leave  his 
bones  among  his  countrymen. 


I 


fc 
* 


: 


li  I 


60        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

Marquette's  canoe  was  once  more  put  on  the 
water,  and  with  his  two  iaitliful  companions  he 
commenced  his  journey  eastward.  About  five  hun- 
dred warriors,  some  in  canoes  and  otliors  mounted 
on  ponies,  accompanied  Marquette  as  far  as  Lake 
Michigan,  and  then  received  from  him  the  parting 
blessing. 

After  parting  with  the  Indians,  Manpiette's 
canoe  started  around  the  liead  of  the  lake,  and 
with  sail  hoisted  and  oars  applied,  they  coasted 
along  the  southern  shore  with  the  expectation  of 
reaching  Canada  in  aixjiit  five  weeks.  Pierre 
and  Jaccpies  witli  all  their  power  plied  the  oars 
to  increase  their  speed,  wliile  tiie  sick  priest  lay 
prostrated  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe,  eommiininj 
with  the  Virgin  and  with  angels. 


DEATH  OF  MARQUETTE. 

When  near  the  mouth  (»f  St.  Joseph  river, 
Marquette  felt  that  liis  time  had  come,  and  he 
told  his  companions  to  land  him  on  the  beach  of 
the  lake,  in  order  that  he  might  receive  the 
sacrament  before  he  died.  On  a  higii  piece  of 
land,  at  the  mouth  of  a  small  stream  which  still 
bears  his  name,  they  built  a  h'dvk  shanty,  and 
carried  thither  the  <lying  priest.  With  his  eyes 
fixed  on  a  crucifix,  which  one  of  his  companionis 


: 


DEATH    or    MARQUETTE. 


51 


held  before  him,  and  while  munmiring  tlie  name 
of  Mary  and  Jesns,  he  breathed  his  last.  His 
companions  dng  a  grave  on  the  l>ank  of  the  stream, 
near  the  spot  wliere  he  died,  and  buried  him 
there.  In  obedience  to  his  recpiest,  they  erected 
a  large  cross,  made  of  basswood  timber,  over  hie 
grave,  on  whifli  was  engraved  his  name  and  date 
of  his  death.  After  burying  Marquette,  Pierre 
and  Jacques  again  put  their  canoe  on  the  lake 
and  continued  tlieir  journey  toward  Canada,  con- 
veying thither  the  sad  news  of  his  death. 

Three  years  after  Marquette's  death,  a  party  ot 
Indians  of  Mackinaw,  who  had  been  converted  to 
Christianity  some  years  before  under  his  preach- 
ing, went  to  Lake  Michigan,  opened  the  grave, 
and  took  up  his  remains.  After  washing  and 
drying  the  bones,  they  placed  them  in  a  box  made 
of  birch  bark  and  carried  them  to  Mackinaw.  With 
the  remains  of  the  holy  father  they  turned  their 
canoes  homeward,  singing  and  chanting  praises 
as  they  went  along.  Seven  miles  above  Mackinaw 
they  were  met  l)y  a  large  delegation  of  Indians  in 
canoes,  who  formed  a  procession  to  escort  the 
renuiins  to  the  mission.  With  their  faces  blacked, 
oars  mutHed,  and  singing  a  funeral  dirge,  the  pro- 
cession slowly  approached  the  mihnion,  and  were 
met  at  the  landing  by  priest,  traders  and  Indians, 
all  of  whoni   wore  badges  ol  mourning.     With 


: 


62 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


a  solemn  ceremony  the  remains  of  Father  Mar- 
quette were  received  at  the  mission,  and  buried 
beneath  the  little  chapel  of  St.  Ignace,  which  he 
had  built  some  years  before.  On  the  following 
day  Father  Allonez  preached  to  the  Indians  col- 
lected here,  and  a  large  number  of  them  embraced 
Christianity  and  were  baptized. 

Two  centuries  have  now  passed  away  since  the 
burial  of  Marqnette,  and  long  since  the  little 
chapel  of  St.  Ignace  lias  gone  to  decay,  but  the 
spot  where  it  stood  was  hallowed  by  the  French 
and  converted  Indians,  and  is  now  pointed  out  to 
strangers. 

For  many  years  after  the  death  of  Marquette 
the  French  sailors  on  the  lakes  kept  his  picture 
nailed  to  the  mast-head  as  a  guardian  angel,  and 
when  overtaken  by  a  storm  they  would  pray  to 
the  holy  father,  beseeching  him  to  calm  the  wind 
and  still  the  troubled  waters,  in  order  that  they 
might  reach  port  in  safety. 


T 
#' 


I 


n 
#' 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  GREAT  EXPLORER  OF  THE  WEST. 

Seven  years  after  Juliet  and  Marquette  discov- 
ered the  upper  Mississipj)!,  La  Salle  obtained  a 
patent  from  the  king  of  France,  authorizing  liini 
to  explore  and  take  posseHsion  of  all  the  country 
west  of  the  great  lakes.  La  Salle's  success  and 
failures  in  this  enterprise  is  a  matter  of  history, 
and  foreign  to  our  purpose,  but  as  his  name  ap. 
pears  in  connection  with  many  incidents,  a  few 
facts  relating  to  him  may  be  of  interest  to  the 
reader. 

Robert  Cavalier  (La  Salle  being  a  title  only) 
was  born  in  the  year  1643,  in  the  city  of  Rouen, 
of  wealtliy  parentage,  and  was  educated  for  the 
priesthood.  In  person  he  is  said  to  have  been 
large  and  muscular,  possessing  u  fine  intellect,  an 
iron  constitution,  and  well  qualified  for  tlie  enter- 
prise in  which  he  embarked.  He  inherited  from 
his  ancestors  a  large  fortune,  which  was  used  in 
advancing  his  enterprise,  but  was  squandered  in 


64         FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OP  ILLINOIS  KIVER. 


conseciuence  of  iniijplHL'cd  conlidence  in  those 
witli  wliom  he  associated.  Altliougli  La  Salle 
made  his  mark  in  history,  his  lite  was  one  of 
hardships,  exposure  and  deprivations,  and  lie 
finally  died  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin  in  the 
wilds  of  Texas. 

A  few  years  ago,  while  strolling  through  the 
city  of  Rouen,  my  guide  pointed  out  an  old 
palace  standing  on  high  ground,  and  overlooking 
the  river  Seine.  For  beauty  of  architecture  and 
antique  appearance,  this  palace  has  no  ecjual  in 
the  old  Norman  capital.  This  old  palace,  said 
my  guide,  was  once  the  residence  of  the  duke  of 
Normandy,  afterwards  known  as  William  the 
Conqueror,  and  from  its  portico  this  great  warrior 
addressed  his  lords  and  nobles  on  the  day  he  left 
Noi-mandy  for  the  conquest  of  England.  In  this 
palace,  continued  my  guide,  now  lives  Count 
Cavalier,  a  descendant  of  the  family  of  La  Salle. 
Two  squares  distant  from  here  is  an  antique  look- 
ing house,  pointed  out  as  the  birth  place,  and  for 
some  time  the  residence  of  the  great  explorer, 
La  Salle,  and  is  still  occupied  by  his  family  de- 
scendants. 


LA  SALLE  AND  PARTY  WESTWARD  BOUND. 

In  the  summer  of  1669,  La  Salle  built  a  vessel 
on  Niagara  river,  above  the  falls,  for  the  purpose 


55 


LA  SALLE  AND  PARTY  WESTWARD  BOUND. 


ot  navi«;atiii;!:  tlio  U|»pei'    I.'iUes 


l.'ik 


This  vessel  was 


of  sixty  tons  liunleii,  carryin*:-  hiteiMi-sails,  ajid 
named  the  Griffin.  It  was  armed  with  a  number 
ot"  small  cannon,  and  a  lar^e  wooden  eai^le  sur- 
mounted its  j)row.  On  the  day  of  de[iarture  the 
vessel  was  visited  hy  a  large  body  of  Indians,  who 
were  astonished  at  tliis  ^reat  canoe,  as  they  called 
it,  as  nothing  like  it  had  ever  been  seen  on  the 
n})per  lakes  before.  Father  Ileimepin  preaclied 
to  these  Indians  from  the  deck  of  the  Griffin, 
wlien  they  cla))ped  tlieir  hands,  shouting  and  yell- 
ing in  res})onse  to  his  words,  tnd  offered  him 
presents  to  be  used  as  sacriUces  to  the  great 
Manito  of  the  French* 

All  things  being  ready,  the  cannons  tired  a 
salute,  the  sails  were  spread  to  the  breeze,  and 
the  Griffin  moved  forward,  ph)wing  through  the 
maiden  waves  of  Lake  Erief 


♦An  Ingenious  Frenchman  painted  on  oanva*  « colossal  plc- 
tnreof  agrilfln,  according  toGreclan  mylholoK.v  Thlsmonster 
had  the  bo<ly  of  a  Hon,  with  Iho  wings  of  nn  eagle,  representing 
strength  and  swiftness  This  picture  (the  motto  of  the  vessel  i 
was  stretched  between  the  masts,  and  the  Indians  mistook  it  for 
the  French  Manito  or  god.so  they  bowed  down  and  worshiped  It 

tin  La  Salle's  party  was  an  Italian  otllcer,  second  in  command, 
named  Tonti.  who  figures  extensively  in  our  narrative,  an<l  a 
short  account  of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere.  In  this  party 
were  also  three  Jesuit  priests,  Louis  Hennepin,  (iabriel  Re- 
bourde,  and  Zen<il)e  Membre.  Tiie  former  of  these  priests  Is 
known  in  history  by  his  surname,  aid  the  two  latter  by  their 
given  names. 


k 


\ 


56        FRENCH   AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

After  a  number  of  days  sail,  the  veSvsel  passed 
tlirough  a  small  lake,  which  La  Salle  gave  the 
name  of  St.  Clair,  in  honor  of  that  saint  whose 
name  appeared  that  day  in  the  calendar.  On  the 
following  day,  after  passing  Lake  St.  Clair,  they 
were  overtaken  by  a  terrible  storm,  which  threat- 
ened the  vessel  with  destruction,  and  all  on  board 
believed  their  time  had  come.  The  rolling  of 
the  vessel  and  lashing  of  the  waves,  caused 
the  sailors  to  hold  fast  to  the  bulwarks  to  pre- 
vent being  carried  overboard.  Blither  Hennepin 
in  his  journal  says  that  he  joined  with  others  in 
fervent  prayer  to  St.  Anthony,  making  a  solemn 
vow  to  that  saint  if  he  would  deliver  them  from 
their  peril  with  which  they  were  surrounded,  the 
first  chapel  built  in  the  new  discovered  country 
should  be  dedicated  to  iiim.  Tlie  saint  heard 
their  prayers — the  wind  calmed,  and  the  Griffin 
continued  on  her  way,  while  plunging  through  the 
foaming  billows. 

After  a  voyage  of  four  weeks,  the  Griffin  ar- 
rived at  Mackinaw,  and  was  safely  moored  in  the 
harbor  of  St.  Ignace.  Here  at  the  straits  of  Mack- 
inaw was  an  Indian  village,  a  Jesuit  mission,  and 
the  seat  of  a  large  fur  trade.  Both  French  and 
Indians  collected  around  the  vessel  in  <'-reat  as- 
tonishment,  as  nothing  larger  than  a  bark  canoe 
was  ever  seen  there  befoi'e.     The  goods  brought 


57 


LA  SALLE  AND  PARTY  WESTWARD  BOUND. 


by  the  Griffin  were  exchanged  tor  furs  at  a  large 
prolit,  and  the  vessel,  loaded  with  pelts,  started 
back  for  Niagara,  but  was  never  heard  of  after- 
wards.* 

Late  in  November  La  Salle,  accompanied  by 
fourteen  persons,  left  Mackinaw  in  four  canoes,  and 
coasted  along  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  in  a 
southern  direction.  They  carried  with  them  a 
l)lacksmith's  forge,  carpenter  tools,  and  other 
utensils  required  in  building  a  fort,  besides  a  large 
amount  of  merchandise  to  trade  with  the  Indians. 

On  the  second  day  out,  they  were  overtaken 
by  a  storm,  which  compelled  them  to  land,  drag 
their  canoes  on  the  beach,  and  there  remain  four 
days  tor  the  angry  waters  to  subside.  Again  trust- 
ing their  frail  barks  to  the  waters  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan, they  found  themselves  on  the  following  day 
overtaken  by  a  severe  gale,  and  amid  the  lashing 
of  waves  their  canoes  drifted  on  a  barren,  rocky 
island,  some  distance  from  the  main  land.  Here 
on  this  rocky  island  they  remained  two  days  and 
nights,  without  shelter  or  fire,  and  their  blankets 
alone  protected  them  from  the  cold  winter  blast. 


•The  fate  of  the  Grlffln  was  never  known.  Some  thought 
8he  perished  \n  a  gale,  others  that  she  was  burned  by  the  In- 
diana, and  the  crew  put  to  death.  But  La  Salle  believed  that 
the  crow,  after  disposing  of  tlie  furs  and  pelts  for  their  own 
benedt,  burned  the  vessel  and  tied  the  country  to  escape  pun- 
ishment. 


1 


58 


FRENCH  A.ND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


When  the  wind  and  waves  subsided,  they  again 
continued  their  journey,  but  a  new  trouble  over- 
took them.  Having  been  so  lotiif  on  the  water, 
their  stock  of  ]»rovisions  became  exhausted,  and 
tliree  of  the  party  went  in  searcli  of  an  Indian 
village,  in  order  to  obtain  a  supply.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  a  lar^-e  party  of  Indians  came  to  their 
camp,  bringin<^  with  tliem  corn  and  venison, 
which  they  exchanji-ed  for  i)'oods.  These  Indians 
encamped  near  the  French,  and  during  the  night 
amused  them  with  songs  and  dances. 

It  was  cold  weather  wheii  the  travelers  reached 
the  mouth  of  St,  Josei)h  river,  and  here  they 
remained  foi-  a  few  days  waiting  for  Tonti  and  his 
companions.  On  the  arrival  of  Tonti  the  party, 
consisting  of  thirty-five  persons  in  Ijark  canoes, 
commenced  ascending  St.  Joseph  river.* 


♦History  says  the  (irifHn  wenT  to  Green  Kay.  and  from  tliere 
La SaUe  and  companions  started  in  their  canoes  for  lUinols. 
But  this  is  not  prol)ni>le,  as  there  was  no  trading  post  at  Green 
Hay  at  that  time,  and  it  was  not  liltely  tliat  tlie  vessel  would  go 
any  further  west  than  trade  liad  gone.  Tf  the  voyageurs  had 
landed  at  Green  Ray,  they  would  have  followed  along  the  west- 
ern shore  of  Lake  Michigan  to  the  mouth  of  Chicago  river- 
ascending  that  stream,  and  down  the  I)es  Phtines  to  Illinois. 
This  route  was  known  at  the  time  to  the  Funcli,  as  Joliel  and 
Marquette  passed  over  it  seven  years  before  La  Salle  and  party 
could  not  have  crossed  Lake  Michigan  in  their  cunoes,  and  it  Is 
highly  improbable  that  they  followed  around  its  southern  end, 
as  it  would  be  out  of  their  course 

Two  years  before  this  expedition,  Father  .\ lionet  established 
a  mission  at  the  mouth  of  St.  Joseph's  river,  and  at  this  point 


69 


LA  SALLE  AND  PARTY  WESTWARD  BOUND. 


On  arriving  at  or  near  t.lie  present  site  of  South 
Bend,  tliey  8to])|)e(l  to  search  for  tlie  ])atli  wliich 
led  across  the  jiortHge  to  tlie  head  waters  of  Kan- 
kakee. Wliile  tlins  engaged,  La  Salle  lost  his 
reckoning,  and  in  the  tiiick  forest  he  ramhled 
about  all  day  and  a  part  of  the  night,  during  a 
severe  snow  storm.  Manv  times  he  fire<l  his  <j:un 
as  a  signal  to  his  friends,  hut  received  from  them 
no  response.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning 
he  discovered  through  the  thick  undergrowth  a 
gleam  of  light,  and  he  iiastened  thither,  supposing 
it  to  be  his  camp,  but  was  disappointed  at  finding 
no  one  there.  By  the  side  of  the  lire  was  a  bed 
made  of  dry  grass  and  leaves,  which  was  still 
warm,  the  occupant  having  been  frightened  away 
at  his  approach.  La  Salle  called  out  in  different 
Indian  dialects,  but  received  no  reply,  so  he  laid 
down  on  the  deserted  bed  and  slept  until  morn- 
ing. The  former  occupant  of  this  bed  was  never 
known,  but  ftU})posed  to  have  been  an  Indian 
hunter. 


they  expected  to  meet  Tonti  with  twenty  men,  who  c-aine  from 
Mackinaw  by  land.  It  is  said  Tonti  and  his  party  Kotlost  anions 
thick  forests  and  lakes  of  Miclilgan.  and  did  nut  reaah  th«ir 
destination  for  some  time  after  La  Halle's  arrival. 

There  is  an  old  traditionary  acount  of  tills  affair,  which  Hfty« 
La  Salle  and  party  were  afraid  to  trust  their  frail  barks  Hunlii 
on  the  angry  waters  of  the  lake  in  mid  wintt-r,  after  their  pa.st 
experience,  .ind  therefore  went  by  the  way  of  Ht.  .Joseph  and 
Kankakee  rivers. 


60 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OP  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


The  friends  of  La  Salle  were  very  much  alarmed 
at  his  long  absence,  and  during  the  night  they 
tired  guns  and  beat  their  drum  in  order  to  direct 
him  to  camp,  but  without  effect.  They  had  about 
given  him  up  an  lost,  when  about  four  o'clock  on 
the  following  day  they  saw  him  approaching  the 
camp  with  two  opossums  hanging  from  his  belt.* 

The  canoes  were  carried  across  the  portage,  five 
miles  in  width,  put  on  the  water  ot  the  Kanka- 
kee, and  floated  down  that  stream  and  the  Illinois 
river  to  La  Vantum,  the  great  town  of  Illinois. 
It  was  now  mid  winter,  and  they  found  the  town 
deserted,  its  occupants  having  gone  off  on  their 
winter  hunt,  in  accordance  with  their  custom. 
Being  in  a  starving  condition,  La  Salle  ordered 
one  of  the  caches  opened,  and  took  therefrom 
twenty  minots  of  corn,  hoping  at  some  future 
time  to  compensate  the  Indians  for  this  robbery. 
After  spending  two  days  in  the  desolate  lodges 
of  the  town,  the  party  again  boarded  their  canoes 
and  continued  on  their  way  down  the  river. 

About  five  leagues  below  La  Vantum,  at  the 
mouth  of  a  stream — supposed  to  have  been  Bureau 
creek — the  voyageurs  landed  and  sent  out  a})arty 
to  hunt  buffalo.  The  hunters  were  successful  in 
their  search,  and  on  coming  up  with  a  large  herd 


*"  Parkmau'i  Dlscoyery  of  the  Oreat  West." 


61 


LA  6ALLE  AND  PARTY  WE8TWARD   BOUND. 


of  buffalo,  a  short  distance  from  tlie  river  ;  they 
killed  two  of  theiri  and  returned  to  camp  with 
the  meat.  This  supply  of  meat,  with  the  corn 
they  took  from  the  Indian  store-house,  drove 
hunger  from  their  canii^and  thetliree  })rie8t3  joined 
in  returning  thanks  to  the  Holy  Virgin  for  thus 
providing  for  their  wants,  while  journeying 
through  this  wild  wilderness  country. 

The  following  day  being  New  Year,  1680,  it 
was  agreed  to  spend  it  in  camp  worshiping,  saying 
mass,  and  taking  sacrament  in  accordance  to  an 
old  custom  in  the  Catholic  Church. 

Before  leaving  Canada,  Father  Hennepin  ])ro- 
vided  himseli  with  a  miniature  altar,  which  folded 
up  like  an  army  chair,  and  could  be  carried  on 
the  back  the  same  as  a  knH])8ack.  With  this  altar 
on  his  back,  Father  Hennepin  started  off"  through 
the  woods  in  search  of  a  suitable  place  for  wor- 
ship, followed  by  the  other  priests  and  the  rest  of 
the  party.  A  place  was  selected,  the  altar  erected, 
and  the  holy  father  preache(i  to  his  companions, 
causing  the  woods  to  resound  with  his  loud  ex- 
hortations and  songs  of  praise.  After  preaching 
and  saying  mass,  thesaci'cd  emblems  were  placed 
by  the  side  of  the  altar,  preparatory  to  taking  the 
sacrament.  But  great  was  Father  Hennepin's 
surprise  to  find  the  wine  vessel  empty,  as  one  of 
the  party,  a  blacksmith  by  trad(.',  and  nicknamed 


* 


62 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLIIn  ^18  RIVBR. 


La  Forge,  had  drank  it  up  while  on  tlie  road. 
For  this  act  of  sacrilege,  Father  Hennepin  pro- 
nounced against  him  a  curse,  equal  to  the  one 
Pope  Leo  pronounced  against  Martin  Luther  for 
puhlishing  the  Bible. 


THE  FRENCH  AT  PEORIA  LAKE. 


1 


III 


i 


According  to  history,  on  the  3d  of  January, 
1680,  the  inhabitants  of  an  Indian  village  situated 
on  the  west  bank  of  Peoria  Lake,  were  much 
surprised  to  see  eight  canoes  filled  with  armed 
men  opposite  their  town.  The  canoes  were  all 
abreast,  presejiting  a  formidable  ap})earance,  and 
the  men  seated  in  them  held  guns  in  their  hands, 
ready  for  an  attack  or  defence.  These  canoes 
rounded  to  and  landed  at  the  village,  causing  a 
great  panic  among  the  Lidians,  some  of  whom 
fled  in.  terror,  while  others  seized  their  arms  and 
prepared  to  del(Mid  themselves.  Amid  the  con- 
fusion that  followed,  La  Salle  sprang  ashore,  and 
presented  to  the  astonished  Indians  the  calumet, 
(a  token  of  friendshi})),  while  Father  Hennepin 
caught  several  frightened  children  and  soothed 
their  fears  with  kindness  and  small  presents. 

The  French  pitched  their  tent  in  tlie  Indian 
vilWe,  and  remained  for  some  days.     But   dis- 


LA  SALLE  AND  PARTY  WESTWARD   BOUND. 


63 


contontincnt  aitioiiij;  tlie  men,  and  tearing' treach- 
ery (»f  the  Iiuliaus,  caused  La  Salle  to  remove  to 
a  jtlace  of  greater  security.  A  site  was  selected, 
a  tort  built,  and  all  the  valuables  at  their  camp 
transt'eri'ed  thereto.  On  account  of  the  gloomy 
prospects,  the  discontentment  and  desertion  of 
some  of  the  men,  La  Salle  named  this  fort  Creve 
Ceour,  which  in  the  French  language  means 
broken  heart.* 

Fort  Creve  Ceour  consisted  of  stockades,  en- 
closing a  small  plat  of  ground,  and  within  which 
were  a  number  of  log  (cabins — quarters  foi*  olhcers 
and  soldi(!rs.  Father  IIi'nn(!j)iii  lamented  the  loss 
of  wine,  which  i)i-(;vented  him  from  adnunisterlng 
the  sacram(!nt,  but  each  morning  and  evening  all 
tlie  occupants  ol  the  fort  were  summoned  to  his 
cabin  foi"  prayei'.  Father  Gabriel  and  Zenobe 
spent  most  of  their  time  in  the  Lulian  village, 
prea(Oiing  to  and  instructing  the  natives  in  the 
ways  of  Christianity,  but  they  made  but  few 
pj'oselytes. 

Al)out  the  iirst  of  February  Father  Hennepin, 
in  a  canoe,  accompanied  by  two  companions,  left 
the  fort  on  a  vovageof  discovcrv.     l^assinji;  <lo\vn 


*The  exact  luoaflon  of  this  fort  Is  not  known,  Imt  It  Is  l)ellpve»l 
to  have  stood  on  IheeaKt  side  of  the  river,  ubout  three  nillen 
below  the  outlet  of  the  lake,  at  a  place  now  called  Wesley. 
This  place  answers  lhi»  description  ulven  by  ilcnnepiu,  and 
also  accords  wUli  traditionary  aecuuuts. 
D 


04        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


to  tlio  mouth  of  tlio  Illinois  river,  tlioy  {iscoinled 
tlie  Mississi])])i  as  tkr  us  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony. 


Here  \h 


(h 


lere  iJennepiu  was  made  a  prisoner  hy  tlie  In- 
dians, and  remained  witli  ihem  some  montli.-^,  hnt 
was  finally  set  at  liherty,  I'eaclied  Canada  in  safely, 
returned  to  Fi'ance  and  ])uhlished  a  book  of  lii.s 
travels. 

Early  in  tlie  s])ring  La  Salle  returned  to  Can- 
ada to  ])rocu  re  men  and  supplies,  leaving;'  "^I'onti 
in  coHunand  of  the  tort.  A  short  time  Mftei-  I^a 
Salh^'s  departure,  all  the  soldiers  except  three 
deserted  tlieir  post,  ascendinii'  tlie  rivei'iji  canoes, 
and  coasting  around  the  slioie  of  Lake  MiclMi^an 
they  reacJKHi  Miickinaw  in  >ah!ty.  Tonti,  l.-ein;;' 
left  with  the  two  })riests  and  tlu'ee  soldi(irs,  al)an- 
doned  the  lort,  and  it  was  never  occupied 
afterwards. 


ClIAPTKK  VI. 


.r 
n 


np:NRI  DE  TONTI. 

Airiono.  the  nuu.j  adventurers  wl,(,a('conn>..um.(l 

U  Sale  to  An,erieaa,Kl    took   ,>art  ir,   explorinc. 

l;e  w,hls  of  ^\.,  west,    was  an    Italian   of  noble 

'>"'M'    I'J  the  nan.e  of   Ih-nri  ,]e    Tonti.     S<m,e 

years  before,  youno.  Tonti,  with  his  father's  thn.i I v 

were  banished  fron,    Italy,  on  aeronnt  of  havin.' 

^ken  part  in  a  revolution  ofthat  eonntry,  and  thev 
fonn.l  a  honie   in  Rouen,  Franee.     Tonti,  having 
a  nnl.tary  education,  joined  the  FrencJi  anny,  and 
served  hveyears,a  part  of  the  time  as  captain,  in 
be  NatH,nal   Guards.     At  the  elose  of  the  war 
lie  was  disehaiH^ed  fron.  serviee,  eame  to  An.eriea 
andjo.nedLa   Salle    in  ]ns  enterprise.     La  Salle 
made  Tonti  Ins  h-eutenant,  or  second  in  eon,n,and 
and  the  se(p,e]  shows  that  lie  was  worthy  of  the 
trust  placed  in  liim. 

TontiVs  rii^ht  hand  liaviui?  been  shot  off  in  the 
bicilian  war,  its  pluee  was  supplied  with  an  iron 
one,  wh.eh  he  kept  always  covered  with-  a  .dove 


If 


■1  ;■ 


1 

r 


(36        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

With  tliisiron  hand,  Tonti,  on  (lifforeiit  occasions, 
broke  the  !jc-a<ls  or  knocked  out  tlie  teeth  oi  dis- 
orderly Indians,  wliicli  caused  tlieni  to  helieve 
tiiat  lie  ])()ssessed  su})ernatnral  power. 

Tonti  hron^'lit  witli  him  from  France  a  lari^e 
sum  of  money,  which  he  used  in  common  with 
La  Salle  in  exploring  and  takiiiij^  possession  of  the 
west,  as  well  as  in  ti'ade  with  the  Indians. 

The  kite  Dr.  Sparks  says  history  ne\  er  can  do 
ample  justice  to  Tonti.  His  life  was  one  of  ])ati-i- 
otism  and  self-sacrifice,  and  the  discovery  and 
taking  possession  of  the  great  west  belong  mainly 
to  him. 

Forty  years  of  Tonti's  life  was  spent  in  the 
wilds  of  the  west,  enduring  hai(ls]ii})S,  dangers, 
and  deprivations,  associating  witii  savages,  and 
without  the  heneiits  and  cotnforts  of  ci\  ilization. 
His  fortune  sacriliced — his  health  and  maidiood 
destroyed — lie  became  a  wanderei"  along  the  gulf 
t)f  Mexico,  l)nt  at  last  returned  to  die  at  Fort  St. 
Louis,  and  his  bones  now  rest  on  the  bank  of  the 
Illinois  river,  at  the  west  end  of  Starved  Rock. 

In  one  of  the  Louvre  picture  gallei'ies  in  Pari.s, 
can  be  seen  a  full-lengLli  portrait  of  a  yoiuhful 
hjoking  man,  dressed  in  French  um'form,  with 
(epaulets  on  his  shoulders  and  an  eagle  on  his 
breast.  His  left  haml  hohls  a  sword,  whih^  the 
left  presents    a    singular    appciarance,   as  though 


THE  FRENCH  AT  LA  VANTUM. 


f) 


' 


(Iclnniit'd,  l)iit  \H  liiddcii  hy  a  <:l()vo.  Tliiy  tall, 
f^'riiculiil  liicurc,  ;i!i<l  llit' picnriuii-  liljick  eyes,  ik-vci- 
tails  to  iitti'acf  tli(^  attention  of  straiiiit'is,  and  in- 
([iiiry  would  nntiirally  arise  for  the  history  of  the 
person  here;  represented.  IJelow  this  portrait  is 
painte(l  lu  larife  letters  the  name — '''' Ifenri  'b' 
Tonti^  la  voijagoiir  des  Ameriqne'' 


THE  FRENCH  AT  LA  VANTUM. 


Alter  most  of  the  soldiers  had  deserted  from 
Fort  Creve  Ce<»iir,  Tonti,  with  those  remaiinn;;, 
(•onsistin«j^  of  Father  Gahi'iel,  Father  Zenohe  and 
three  soldiers,  abandoned  the  place.  All  the 
valuables  in  the  fort  were  put  into  two  eanoes, 
and  the  party  ascended  the  river  as  far  as  J^a 
Vantum.  Jlere  they  found  (piarters  arnon;^  the 
Indians,  with  the  intention  of  awaitinir  La  Salle's 
re! urn  iVom  Canada.  Tonti  a})plied  himself  in 
leai'iiinji:  the  Indian  lanicuai^e — the  two  priests 
were  cnpiged  in  [)i'eaehing  to  tl 


le   natives — w 


hih 


the  soldiers  wer(!  spendinjj:  the  honeymoon  with 
their  s(puiws,  whom  they  had  recently  married. 

Ab(Uit  three  miles  from  the  town,  in  the  midst 
(»f  a  thick  grove  of  tind)er,  Father  Gabriel  and 
Zenobe  erected  a  ti'm})orary  altar,  and  every  thiid 
day  they  rejtaired  thither  for  prayer  ami  medita- 
tion.    Here  in  this  hjnely  spot,  fai"  away  from  the 


} 


68 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILMNOI8  RIVER. 


iioisc  and  hustle  of  tlie  town,  the  two  holy  Frinrrt 
would  K])eM(l  loii^  summer  days,  tVom  eai'ly  morn- 
ing until  late  at  night,  eommuninii^  with  the  Vir- 
gin, saints  and  angels. 

Notwithstanding  these  priests  preached  and 
prayed  with  these  Indians  almost  daily,  })i(imising 
them  success  in  war,  hunting,  tVc,  il'  they  would 
cmhrace  Christianity,  hut  tew  converts  were  made. 
Chassagoac,  the  liead  chief,  having  emhraced  the 
Christian  religion  seven  years  bef(»re,  under  tin; 
preaching  (»f  Father  Marquette,  still  continued 
in  the  faith.  The  cldef,  his  household,  and  a  few 
of  his  friends,  had  taken  the  sacrament  from  the 
hands  of  the  priests,  hut  all  the  otlier  chiels  and 
principal  warriors  denounced  Christianity,  a<l- 
hcring  to   the  religion  of  their  fathers. 

The  wine  brought  from  Canada  forsaci'amenlal 
pur})oses  liaving  been  drank  by  La  Forge,  as  pre- 
viously stated,  it  Ijecame  necessary  to  ]>rocure  a 
substitute,  as  the  administration  of  the  sjicred 
rights  could  not  be  dispensed  with.  During  the 
winter  the  priests  gathered  a  (puintity  of  wild 
grai)es,  pressed  out  the  juice  and  put  it  away  in 
the  sacramejital  cask  for  future  use.  This  win«» 
answered  the  ]»urpose  very  well  so  long  a.'- 
weatlier  remained  cool,  but  during  the  sumn  it 
soured  and  became  unfit  for  use. 

The  time  came  to  administer  the  sacrament. 


* 


THE  FKENOH  AT  LA  VANTUM. 


69 


Toiiti,  the  tliree  soldiers  with  their  wives.   Chas- 
siii^'oMc    aii«l    fUinily,   witii     a    few  IVieiids,     were 
assL'iiiiiie'l   in    the  eniuieil-hoiise  oi\  th<'  Sai)l>at' 
day  to  receive  the   sacred   einhieiiis.      P'athei- Ga- 
ln-iel,  wrappeil  in  Ids  h.nii'  Mack  rolie,  with  a  ui.ld 
cross  suspende'd  from  his  neck,  preaclied  to  thein, 
>I>eaiv-in<,'  of  Christ,  of  the  a})osties,  of  saints,  and 
n\'  the   kini;-don;  to  come.     After  preacliin;,',  all 
knelt   around  the  altar  (Mii:;aij:ed  in  prayer,   while 
F'ather  Gahriel  made  preparations  to  a<lmiTnster 
the  sacrament ;  Imt   he  was  horrified   to  find   the 
wine  sour,  an<l  tlie  miracle   of  transubstantiation 
(that  is,  convertiniT  itinto  the  real  blood  of  Christ) 
could   not   be  pcu'formed,  conse({uently  the  sacra- 
mental service  was  postpoinMl  until  aimther  dav. 
Time  huni;  heavy  with   the  French  ;  davs  and 
weeks  passed   away  ;  spi-ing  was  gone,  the  sum- 
mer almost  ended,  and   no  news  from    La  Salle. 
In  an  Indian  \illage,  where  there  is  neither  liunt- 
ing  (tr   wai-  parties,  nor  natioiud   dances  to  keep 
up  the    excitement,    it    has  a  dull,    monotonous 
aitpearanee.     Warriors  lay  under    the  shade    of 
trees,  jileei>ing  or  amusing  themselves  in  games 
of  chance,  while  s(|uaws  were  at  work   in   corn- 
fields, or  prc]»aring  food  for  their  families.    Naked 
children  were  playing  on    the  gi'eeii  or  rolling  in 
the  dirt,  while  youna'  mai(iens,  with  their  lovers, 
were  gathering  flowers  in   tlie  grove,  fishing  on 


I' 


70        FRENCH   AND  INDIANR  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


tlie  hjuiks  of  the  river,  or  rowini;  tlioir  cjiiioes 
across  ics  waters,  unconscious  of  the  ^ruat  calamity 
that  was  about  to  befall  tlieni. 

THE  ALARM  ANI>  PREPARATION  FOR  UhZFENSE. 


It  was  near  the  close  of  a  warm  day  in  the 
latter  part  of  Aui^ust,  1680,  when  a  scout  arrive*) 
with  his  horse  in  a  foam  of  sweat,  and  shouting  at 
the  to})  of  his  voice  that  tlie  Iroquois  were 
marching  ajj;ainst  the  town.  All  was  now  excite- 
ment and  confusion  ;  squaws  sci'eamcd,  pa}>o'.;oses 
quit  their  plays  on  the  green,  and  ran  away  to 
tlieir  homes;  warriors  caught  their  wcajions  jnid 
made  preparations  to  defend  their  town  and  pi\»- 
tect  their  S(piaws  and  little  ones.  During  the 
night  fires  were  ke})t  burning  along  the  ri\er 
bank,  and  every  ])reparation  made  to  defend  the 
town  in  case  it  shoidd  be  attacked.  The  warriors 
greased  their  bodies,  painted  their  faces  red,  and 
ornamented  their  heads  with  turkey  featliers; 
wai-  songs  were  sung,  drums  beat ;  warriors 
danced,  yelled  and  blandished  their  war  cfnbs  to 
keep  u[)  their  courage.  At  last  morning  c.nne, 
and  with  it  the  savage  Iro(pu)is. 

When  news  came  of  the  approaching  foniuois, 
a  crowd  of  excited  savages  collected  around 
Tonti  and  his  companions,  whom  they  had  previ- 


ALARM  AND  PREPAKATIONS  FOR  DEFENSE.        71 


t 

I 


ouslv  siispcfitcd  (»t'  li-(>a(*1ion',  tuhl  cluirirod  thciii 
with  Ix'inu:'  in  luai^'iie  with  their  eiiuiiiies.  A 
report  having  reached  thein  that  a  iiunihej'  of 
Jesuit  priests,  and  even  La  Salle  liiniself  was  with 
tlie  Iroquois,  and  leading;  tlieni  on  to  the  town. 
The  enrai!;ed  warriors  seized  tlie  blaeksndth  ior^'e, 
t(»ols,  an<l  all  the  j^-oods  that  helon^i^cd  to  the 
Krencli,  and  tlirew  tluiin  into  the  ri\er.  One  of 
the  warriors  eau^uiit  Tonti  l>_v  the  hair  of  his  head 
and  raised  his  tonudiawk  to  s})lit  his  skull,  but  a 
iViendly  chieC  eau^ht  the  savaiie  hy  the  arm,  and 
his  iile  was  s[)ared.  Tonti,  .with  that  holdness 
and  selt'-j)()ssession  whieh  was  eharaeteristie  of 
him,  defended  himself  apunst  tliese  charges,  and 
in  order  to  eonvincc  them  of  his  good  faith, 
(•tVered  toaeeornpany  them  to  battle. 

Father  (xahrii  1  atid  Zcnohe  were  away  at  their 
altar,  sj»endinn'  the  ilay  in  ])raYer  and  meditation, 
and  had  no  warning'  of  the  danii'er  that  awaited 
them.  On  their  return  honie  late  at  niu^ht,  they 
were  surprisc^d  to  tiiul  tlie  town  in  a  whirlpool  of 
excitement;  s(piaws  were  eryituj;  and  hewailin;^ 
their  (ate,  while  the  warriors  were  dafieing.  yellin,i^ 
and  olVerinn'  up  saerilires  to  tlu;  Manito  of  battle. 

On  the  arrival  (d' the  two  pi'i(>sts.  the  sava_tj^(\s 
colleeted  ai'ound  them,  charLoni;' them  witli  treach- 
ery, and  beliii]^  the  eause  of  the  Inxjuois  iiivadiui^ 
their  country.     The  priests,  with  uplifted   hands, 


4  1 


72 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


called  God  to  witness  their  iimoceiice  of  the 
charge,  but  tlieir  stateinent  did  not  chatigc  tlie 
minds  of  the  excited  Indians.  A  loud  clamor  was 
raised  for  their  blood,  and  a  nund)er  of  w;irriors 
s])ran^  forward  with  uplifted  tomahawks  to  put  an 
eiul  to  their  existence,  but  as  tliej  drew  niij^h  and 
were  about  to  tomahawk  them,  Father  Gabriel 
<li'ew  from  his  bosom  a  suudi  ij-old  iniiiii'e  of  the 
Holy  Virgin,  and  held  it  uphcfore  th(Mr  would-ltc 
executioners.  On  seeing  this  sacred  talisman  the 
I'ulians  paused  a  moment,  and  then  I'etunuMl  tlieir 
tomahawks  to  their  belts.  Father  Zenobe  after- 
wards said  this  was  another  proof  of  the  Virgin 
protecting  the  Jesuits  in  North  America. 

During  the  night  all  thesipiaws  ;md  ])a})pooses, 
with  the  old  Iiulians  unable  to  bear  ai'ms,  were 
placed  in  canoes  and  taken  down  the  river  about 
three  leagues,  to  a  large  marshy  island.*  About 
sixty  warriors  were  left  for  their  ])rotection.  a?id 
all  of  them  secreteil  themselves  in  the  reeds  and 
high  grass,  so  they  could  not  bu  seen  by  the  L'o- 
<pu>is.  But  the  secpiel  shows  tliat  they  did  not 
escape  the  vigilance  of  the  eneniy,  and  this  island 
of  su])iM)sed  safety  became  their  tomb. 

*Tlils  isluiul  1h  situated  between  the  river  mikI  Lake  T'epne, 
and  oonslts  of  several  luindred  aeresot'  rnarsli  Ijuid.a  part  of 
which  Is  covered  duiiny  the  summer  with  reeds  mid  lailrushes 
Formerly  it  was  surrounded  by  water,  but  lr(  in  the  wasliint;s  of 
the  river  the  upper  end  is  tilled  up  so  that  in  an  ordinary  staye 
of  water  It  couuects  with  the  main  Inud. 


r 


i 


1 


ciiAPTroR  v[  r. 


THK    HATTLK    AND    MASSAOIilO. 

At    the    tiiiio    of  tilt'   Inxniois   invasion,    ihui'o 
were   only  about   five  luiiidred    warriors   at    I.a 
Vuntum,  tlie  head   chief,  Chassa^-oac,  and  ji  large 
})()rtion  of  his  hraves  liaving  gone  to  Cahokia  for 
the  purpose  of  attending  a   religious  feast.     But 
this  l)and,  small  as  it  was,  boldly  crossed  the  river 
ut  daylight,  and    met   the  enemy,  wlntse  number 
was  live  times  as  large  as  theii"  own.     While  tliey 
were  ascending    the  bluff  a  scout  met  them,  say- 
ing that   the   enemy    were    crossing    the    prairie 
between  the  Vermillion  and  Illinois  timber.     As 
the  invaders  ap])roached  the  river  timber,   th(!y 
were  sur])rised   to  meet  the  lilinoians,  who  were 
lyingin  ambush. and  i-(N'cived  th(!m  withadeadiv 
lii-e.     At    this  une\p('cti;(l   attack,    the    Ii'o(piois 
were  stricken  with  a  panic  a.?id  Ht-d  troni  the  held, 
lea\ing  the  ground  cove-red    with  the  dead  and 
wounded.      But  they   s(»on   rallied  and  the  fight 
became  bloody,  arrows  and  rille  balls  Hying  thick 


H'  I 


i 


74 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


atid  fast,  while  tlic  woods  tar  and  near  resounded 
witli  the  wild  whoops  of  contending  savages. 

In  the  midst  of  the  iii^ht,  Tonti  nndert(»ok  the 
perilous  task  of  mediating  between  the  contend - 
ing  parties.  Laying  aside  his  gim  and  taking  a 
wampum  belt  in  his  liand,  holding  it  over  his 
head  as  a  tlag  of  truce,  and  amid  shoM'ers  of 
arrows  and  bullets,  he  walked  l)oldly  forward  to 
meet  the  enemy.  As  he  ap]>roached,  the  Iro(pu)is 
warriors  colleeted  around  him  m  a  threatening 
manner,  one  ol  whom  attemi)ted  to  stab  him  to 
the  h(;art,  but  the  knife  striking  a  rib  inflicted 
oidy  a  long,  shallow  gash.  As  the  savage 
was  about  to  repeat  the  blow  a  chief  came 
up,  and  seeing  he  was  a  white  man,  protected 
him  from  further  assault,  and  ap})lle(l  a  bandage 
to  the  wound  to  stoj)  its  bleeding.  The  fighting 
having  ceased,  a  warrior  took  Tonti's  hat,  and 
placing  it  on  the  muzzle  of  his  gun,  started 
toward  the  Illinoians,  who,  on  seeitig  it,  su]>])osed 
he  was  killed  and  again  renewed  the  tight. 
While  the  battle  was  in  progress,  a  wan-ioi- 
reported  that  three  Frenchmen,  armed  w'thgiins, 
were  with  the  Illinois  forces,  and  fifing  on  them. 
When  this  announcemei.'  was  made  the  Irocpioi^ 
became  enraged  at  Tonti,  and  again  gathei'ed 
around  him,  some  for  killing  and  oth(3rs  for  his 
protection.     One  of  the  warriors  caught  him  by 


T 


»'. 


■' 


1 


<• 


THE  BATTLE  AND  MASSACRE. 


75 


the  hair  of  Ill's  liead,  r;iisin<r  it  uj),  and  with  his 
h)iig  knife  was  about  to  taice  off  his  scalj),  wlien 
Tonti,  witli  liis  iron  liaiul,  knocked  down  liis 
assaihmt  Others  attacked  Tonti  vvitli  knives  and 
toinaliawks,  but  he  was  again  rescued  from  death 
by  the  liead-cliief. 

For  a  h)n<,^  time  tlie  batth^  rai;-ed,  many  of  tin; 
combatants  on  ]>otii  sides  i)eing  slain,  and  theyelis 
of  tlie  warriors  could  l)e  heard  far  away.  Ihit  at 
last  the  Illinoians,  whose  force  was  inferior  to 
their  adversary,  were  overpowered  and  di'iven 
from  the  field.  The  \an(|uishcd  fled  to  their 
town,  with  the  intention  of  defending  it  or  perish 
in  the  attempt. 

On  the  river  bank,  near  the  center  of  the  town, 
was  their  great  couTicil-house,  surrounded  by 
stockades,  forming  a  kind  of  fortification.  To 
this  tiie  remnant  of  tlie  warriors  tied,  and  in  great 
haste  tore  down  the  lodges  and  used  the  material 
in  strengthening  their  works. 

The  Illinoians  had  crossed  the  rivei"  in 
canoes,  but  their  ]>ursuers  having  no  means  of 
(crossing  at  this  point,  were  obliged  to  go  up  to 
the  rapids  where  they  forded  it.  In  a  shoi't  tinie 
the  froipK.is  attackt><l  the  town,  setting  fire  to  the 
lodges  and  fort ilic;itions,  which  wei-e  soon  a  mass 
ol  tl;im(^s.  Many  of  the  beseiL'ed  W(!re  bnrned 
in  their  strongholds,  <.thers  wei'e  slain   or  taken 


r 


/ 


76 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


prisoners  as  tliey  cscajX'd  tVoin  tlu^  flames;  a  few 
only  succeeded  in  the  ]H'eservati(»ii  oi'  their  lives 
hy  esca})ing  down  tlie  i-iver.  The  town,  with  tlie 
great  coiincil-lionse  and  tortilications,  was  de- 
stroyed l)y  lire,  and  notliiiin'  was  left  of  them  except 
the  blackened  poles  of  which  the  lodges  were 
constru(^ted. 

When  the  victory  was  completed  they  hound 
the  })risoners  hand  and  foot,  and  comnnuiced 
toitui'ini'-  them  to  make  thcni  reveal  tlie  hidincr 
j>lace  of  their  s(pniws  and  pap])ooses. 

On  obtaining  the  necessary  information  a  large 
war  party  took  the  canoes  left  by  the  vaiKpiished 
Illinoiaiis,  and  descended  the  river  in  search  of 
the  squaws  and  ])ap})ooses.  While  these (U^fcnse- 
less  beings  were  secreted  among  the  reeds  and 
high  grass  oi  the  island,  they  were  discovei'cd  by 
the  savage  Iro(pU)is,  :iiid  all  of  them  slain.  The 
sixty  warriors  hjlf  to  guar<l  thciu  lied  on  the  ;i]»- 
])roach  o(  the  enemy,  crossing  the  lake  and 
secretinii'  themselves  in  the  thick  river  tindx^r. 


1 


TORTURING  TUE  PRISONERS. 


On  the  following  day  after  the  baffle,  the  vic- 
tors made  pre]»ai'ations  fcWortuj'C  the  prisoners; 
and  their  acts  of  barbarity   probably  never  have 


? 


TORTUKINO  THE  PRISONERS. 


77 


' 


boon  cqiiiiled   by  any  of  the  savages  of  tlie  west. 
Tli(;  warriors  were  formed     into    a  lai;i,'e    circle, 
and   the    })risoners,   bound  haiul   and    foot,  were 
conveyed  tiiifiier,  when  tlie  work  of  torture  com- 
menced.    The  doomed   ])risoners  wei-e  seated  on 
tlie   ground  awaiting-  tlieir   late,   some  of  whom 
were    wee})ing    or    ])raying,    wliile    others    were 
engaged  in  singing  their  death  song.     A  wan-ior, 
with  u  Jong  l<nife,  cut  off  tlie  nose  and  ears  of  the 
prisoners,  and   tlirew  tliem  to  tlieir  huna'rv  do<«s. 
J  leces  of  flesh    wei'e  cut  out  of  their  arms  and 
breasts,    while    the  }>i-isoners  sat    writhing    with 
agony;  and    the  ground   around  them    red   ^vilh 
hnnian  gore.     The  work  of  torture  went  on— the 
executioners  continued  to  cutoff  limbs  and  pieces 
ot  flesh — and  in  some  cases  the  bowels  were  taken 
out  and  trailed  on   the  ground,  while  the  gi'oans 
and  screams  of  the  victims  in  their  death  agonies 
were  terrible  to  witness. 

Tonti  and  his  companions  looked  on  these  bar- 
barous acts  of  the  Irocpiois  with  horror  and 
astonishment,  but  dare  not  remonstrate  as  they 
were  prisoners  also,  and  did  not  know  but  a  like 
fate  awaited  them. 

While  the  torture  was  going  on  the  two  pi-iests 
were  engaged  in  baptizing  the  victims,  in  order 
to  absolve  them  fn»ni  past  sins,  and  as  each  one 
was  about  to  expire,  they  w^ould  liold  the  crucifix 


i 


78 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  UIVER. 


f|     ! 


hcf'ore  his  eyes,  so  lie  ini^lit  look  on  it,  aiul 
tlirough  its  divine eflicjiey  liis  soul  would  he  saved 
lV(»in  })er(htiou. 

Wlieri  the  prisoners  were  all  (hnid,  tlie  warriors 
cut  out  thciir  hearts,  roasted  and  eat  them  in  order 
to  make  them  hrave. 

Foi'.M.  number  of  days  tlie  Iro(juois  continued 
to  rejoice  over  tlu;ir  victory,  spendiui;'  tlie  time 
in  sin^iiiii'  and  dancing'  aroinid  the  scalps,  an(i 
causinu;'  the  tind>ei'  and  river  hluffs  to  re-echo  with 
their  yells  and  wild  whoops. 

DEATH  OF  FATHEH  OABKIEL. 

Two  days  after  the  Iroipiois  victory,  the  French 
were  vset  at  liherty,  and  tli(!y  departed  in  an  old 
leaky  canoe.  Al'tcr  i;-oing  about  six  leagues,  they 
istop'ped  at  th(!  mouth  <»f  a  lari^c;  c,re(ik  to  I'epair 
the  canoe  and  diy  their  clothiiiii::.  AV^liile  thus 
en<;ai;'ed,  Father  (rabiMel,  who  was  always  foinl  o( 
solitude,  wander'Ml  olV  into  the  thick  river  timbi'r 
foi"  the  ])urpose  of  prayer  and  meditation.  When 
the  canoe  was  repaired,  clothes  (lrie(l,  an<l  time  of 
dej>arturc  came,  Father  Gabi-iel  was  missini;-, 
and  they  searched  Ibi' him  amonij;lli(^  thick  tim- 
ber, but  he  c(»u!d  not  be  Ibund.  Diiriiii-'  th(^  iii^'ht 
lii'es  were  l<e|>t  burninii,-  aloni;"  the  y'wvv  b;ink,  and 
guns  discharged    to  direct  him  to  cam[»,  but  all 


DEATH   OF  FATHER  0ABI4IEL. 


79 


in  vain.     During  tlie  following  day  tliey  searched 


I 


IK- 


tl 


(Is  ft 


for  th 


1 


nti  near 

P^'ather  Zenobe  prayed  to  the  Holy  Virgin  for  his 
safe  return,  but  all  to  no  pur])ose,  so  they  gave 
him  up  for  lost,  and  continued  their  journey.  For 
many  days  they  mourned  the  losr?  of  the  holy 
father,  as  he  was  an  old  man  f>f  nearly  three  score 
years,  and  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  church.- 

It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  Father  Ga- 
briel was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  carried 
to  their  camp  some  miles  off,  where  he  was  exe- 
cuted, and  while  his  friends  were  searching  for 
him  those  savages  were  dancing  around  his  scalp. 

While  Father  Gal^riel  was  at  prayer  in  the  thick 
timber,  some  distance  from  his  companions,  he 
was  approached  Ijy  two  Indians  in  a  threatening 
manner.  With  his  head  uncovered  he  arose  to 
meet  them,  with  one  hand  pointing  heavenward 
and  the  othei-  to  the  gold  cross  on  his  breast, 
giving  them  to  understand  that  he  was  a  priest. 
In  vain  he  told  them  that  he  was  their  friend,  and 
had  come  from  afar  across  the  big  waters  to  teach 
them  in  the  ways  of  truth  and  happinesss.  Re- 
gardless of  his  entreaties,  they  bound  his  hands 
behind  his  back  and  led  him  off  a  j)risoner  to 
their  camp.  A  council  was  held  over  the 
caj>tives  and  it  was  decided  that  he  sh<>ul<l  die. 
A  stake  was  driven  into  the  ground,  and  Father 

E 


Hi 


80        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

Gabriel  with  his  hands  and  feet  pinioned,  tied  to 
it.  Here,  he  sat  on  the  ground  hound  to  tlie 
stake,  witli  his  hjng  hair  and  flcMving  heard  wliite 
witli  tlie  snows  of  seventy  winters,  waving  to  and 
fro  in  the  wind.  The  Indians  formed  a  circle 
around  tlieir  victim,  singing  and  dancing  while 
nourishing  their  war-clubs  over  his  head,  and  oc- 
casionally yelling  at  the  top  of  their  voices.  This 
performance  continued  for  some  time,  while  the 
victim  sat  with  his  head  bowed  down,  his  eyes 
fixed  on  the  gold  cross  which  hung  on  his  l)reast, 
and  in  silence  awaited  his  (h)om. 

(Jnder  re|)cated  blows  of  war-clubs,  Father 
Gabriel  fell  to  the  ground  and  soon  expired.  His 
clothing  and  scalp  were  taken  off  by  the  savages, 
and  his  renuiins  left  to  be  devoured  by  wolves. 

Thus  perished  Father  Gabriel,  the  oidy  heir  of 
a  wealthy  Bui'gundian  house,  who  had  given  up  a 
life  of  ease  and  comfort,  with  all  the  enjoyment 
of  riches  and  society  in  the  old  world,  to  preach 
the  gospel  to  the  heathens  of  the  west,  whom  at 
last  became  his  murderers. 

Four  years  after  this  afhiir,  a  trader  at  Fort  St. 
Louis  bouii'lit  of  an  Indian  a  small  i-'old  imaii'e  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  with  Father  Gabriel's  ruime  and 
that  of  the  owner  engraved  thereon.  This  image 
was  presented  to  Father  Gabriel  the  day  he  sailed 
for  America,  by  the  cardinal  bishop  of  Normandy, 


r 


I 


-itf.,,JBW*i**ii<s**ii,w»r 


A    SCENE   OP    HORROR. 


81 


and  he  carried  it  in  hisLosoin  near  his  heart  until 
the  day  of  his  deatli.  Some  years  afterward,  this 
i;-(»Men  iniac^e  was  carried  back  to  P>ance,  and  is 
now  to  be  seen  in  the  nmseuni  at  Kouen. 


A  SCENE  OF  HORROR. 

Tt  was  mid  winter,  tliree  nn.ntlis  after  the  mas- 
sacre of  the  Illinois  Indians,  when  La  Salle,  witli 
twelve  com])ani()ns,  returned  from  Canada  to  look 
after  his  little  colony  on  the  Illinois  river.     As 
the  travelers  ur<red  their  canoes  down  the  swollen 
stream,  their  eyes  were  directed  to  Starved  Rock, 
where    they  expected  to  find  ^i\)nti    within    his 
fortiHcation.     Bnt  no  palisades   were    there—no 
8m(»ke  ascended  from  its  snmmit,  norsii^iis  ol  hu- 
man habitation  eonld  be  seen.     Passiiiir  down  the 
nipid  current  for  about  two  miles,  they  were  sur- 
prised to  find  that  the  ^n-eat  town  of  the  w<\st  had 
disajvpeared.     'JMie    laro-e  meadow,    only    a    few 
months  before  covered  witli  lodges  and  swarming 
with  human  bein<>-s,  was  now  a  lonely  waste,  a  repre- 
sentative of  death  and  desolation.     On  the  charred 
poles  which  had  formed  the  frame-work  of  lodc^^es, 
were  many  hunum   heads,  partly  robbed  of  fk^sli 


by  birds  ot  prey.     Gangs  of  wolves  fled  at 
apj)roach,  and  flocks  of  buzzard 


th 


eir 


s  raised  from  theii 


hideous  repast,  and  flew  away  to  distant  tr 


ees. 


82        PRENOn  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

Even  the  l)iii'ying  ground  showed  marks  of  the 
vindictive  niulice  of  the  concjuerors,  tliey  liaving 
made  war  on  the  dead  as  well  as  tlie  living. 
Graves  had  been  opened  and  bones  taken  out  and 
piled  up  in  heaps,  or  broken  into  fragments  and 
scattered  over  the  prairie.  The  scall'olds  wiiich 
contained  dead  ])odies,  had  been  torn  down  and 
their  contents  thrown  hither  and  thither  on  the 
prairie.  Everywhere  the  l)lackened  ground  was 
strewn  with  mangled  ])odie8  and  broken  bones  of 
the  unfortunate  Illinoians.  The  caches  had  been 
broken  open,  the  corn  taken  out  and  burned  by 
the  victors. 

In  the  midst  of  these  ruins  the  concpierors  had 
erected  an  altar  to  the  god  of  war,  and  the  poles 
surrounding  it  were  cap[)ed  with  heads  of  victims 
whose  lon<j!:  hair  and  ii-liastlv  features  were  sicken- 
ing  to  look  U})on.  The  stench  arising  from  pu- 
trefaction was  so  offensive,  and  the  scene  so 
horrifying,  that  La  Salle  and  his  party  turned 
away  from  it,  and  encamped  for  the  night  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river.  During  the  long 
winter  night  the  loneliness  was  increased  by  the 
howling  of  wolves,  and  buzzards  winging  their 
iliglit  back  and  forth  through  the  dark  donuiin. 

On  the  following  morning  La  Salle  returned  to 
the  ruined  town,  and  examined  the  skulls  of  numy 
of  the  victims,  to  sec  if  he  could  lind  among  them 


I 


I 


A    SCENE    OF    HOUKOIi. 


83 


the  rcinuins  of  Tonti  and  his  party,  hut  thcv  all 
l»n»vt'(l  to  have  heuu  the  heads  of  indiaiis. 

On  the  baid^-  of  the  river  were  planted  six  posts, 
painted  red,  and  on  eaeli  of  these  was  a  ti;;-nre  of 
a  man  drawn  in  white.  La  Salle  believed  these 
fi^nires  represented  six  white  men,  prisoners  in 
the  hands  of  Indians,  it  ])einic  the  number  of 
Tonti's  party. 

La  Salle  and  his  eoni])anions  again  l»oarded 
their  canoes  and  started  down  the  river,  hopini,'  to 
learn  something  in  relation  to  the  tate  of  their 
ei»mrades,  but  nothing  was  discovered. 

As  the  travelers  passed  down  the  river,  they 
saw  on  the  island  where  tlie  squaws  and  pappooses 
had  taken  refuge,   many  human  figures  standing 
erect,  but  motionless.     With  great  caution  they 
landed  from  theii-  canoes  to  examine  these  fi«rures, 
and  found  them  to  be  partly  consumed  bodies  of 
squaws,  who  had  been  bound  to  stakes  and  then 
])urned.     Fires  had  been  made  at  their  feel,  con- 
sunung  the  flesh  oif  their  legs  and  crisping  their 
bodies,  but   leaving  the  remains   bound  to   the 
stakes,  standing   erect  as   though  in  life;    poles 
were  stuck  into  the  nuirsh  and  pa])j)ooses   placed 
thereon,  while  others  were  hanging  by  the  neck 
from  limbs  of  trees,  with  the  liesh  {tartly   eaten 
off  their  bodies  by  birds  of  prey.     Among  these 
remains  no  warriors  were  found,  as  tliey  had  fled 


i 


I 


R  ■ 


< 


84         FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVEIl. 

at  tli(i  approacli  ol"  Llioeiiumy,  leaviiii^  thu  .squaws 
aiul  !nij)j)oo8CK  to  their  fate.  Tlic  bi^^lit  of  tliese 
(lerul  bodies  was  so  revoltini^  to  look  upon,  that 
the  F'reneli  turned  away  from  theni,  not  knowiri,*^ 
at  what  nionieiit  tliey  too  would  fall  victim.s  to 
tlio  Hava^e  Iroquois. 

A  few  yefU'H  after  this  event,  according  to  tra<li- 
tion,  Fatlier  Zenobe,  with  olhersof  hiseoinitrynien, 
visited  this  islaiul  aiul  found  lien;  a  lar^e  pieee  of 
^n>uiid  strewn  with  human  hones. 

In  the  summer  of  1829  a  black  man  name-d 
Adams,  built  a  cabin  opposite  the  upi)er  end  of 
tlie  island  at  the  mouth  of  Negro  ereek.  In  the 
iollowing  spring  Mr.  Adams  discovered  many 
liuman  bones  sticking  out  of  the  bank  on  the 
islan<l,  where  the  dirt  liad  been  washed  away 
by  the  floods.  The  same  thing  vas  noticed  by 
Jolin  Clark,  Amos  Leonard  and  other  earl  v  set  t  Icrs. 
It  aj)pears  the  bones  were  (M>vered  up  by  over- 
flowingof  the  island,  and  afterwai'l  bi';)Ught  to 
light  by  washing  away  of  the  baidv. 


i 


ii 


h 


^   c 


wS*iw-VUia»'«S;*.te 


mmmmatiiiim 


''^^^^ff 


CHAPTER  VITI. 


V 


J'(tIiT  ST.   LOUrs,  ROCK  FORT,    AND  I,E    UOOHKK, 

It  is  h(,"!icv('(!  l,y  tiic  people  of  Hu;  we.st  gciicr- 
nlly  thai  ]u,v{  8t.  Louis  was  hiiill on  J^ullalo  Rock, 
as  relics  of  an    ancient    fortification    were    found 
here  in  the  eaily  settlement  of  the  coiintrv.     I3ut 
in    conipjiriju,!;  t!io  various  hi.-t«.)-ical  accounts  of 
lhi>  fort,  as  well  as  French  an<l  Indian  traditions, 
it  will  appear  quite  evident  that  it  stood  on  Starved 
K</k,  and  liei'e  its  remains  can  now  heseen.     In 
;'ii  old   map,  drawn  in   the  days  of  La  Salle,  and 
preserved  with  the  antiquarian   collection  at  Que- 
hfc,  Fort  St.  Louis  is  located  on  the  s(.uth  side  of 
'he  j-ivei-,  wlici-cas  Biillalo  Kock   is  on    the  nortii 
side.     'J'he  description   of  this    fori,  with  its   sur- 
soundinus,  as  ^^iven  hy  the  explorers  and  nnssiona- 
i'i<'-'^,  would  apply  very  well  to  Starved  ]i<.ck,  hut 
will  not. answer  tor  Hulfalo  Pw(jck.      j^\>rt  St.  Louis. 
I»ock  Fort  and  Le  Roe  her,  so  o'len  referred  to  in 
history,  are,  without   douht,  ad   the  same  place. 
In  the  summer  of  1721,  tjiirty-nine  years  after 


86        FliENOII  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  KIVER. 


IS  ! 


Fort  St.  Louis  was  built,  Cliui-lcvoix,  a,  Jesuit 
priest,  visited  the  Illinois  coniitry,  and  in  his 
journul  gives  an  account  of  both  of  these  rocks. 
On  Buffalo  Rock  he  found  an  Indian  vilhige,  and 
in  the  midst  of  which  was  a  I'udc  fortilication, 
consisting  of  low  earthworks,  with  stockades 
constructed  of  cottonwood  poles,  and  known  as 
Le  Fort  des  Mianies.  About  one  league  beh»w 
Buffalo  Rock,  on  the  0])posite  side  of  the  river, 
is  Le  Rocher,  rising  from  the  water's  edge  like  a 
castle  wall,  to  the  hight  of  one  hundred  and  tii'ty 
feet,  and  can  be  ascended  at  only  onei)oint.  On 
this  rock,  vsays  Charlevoix,  La  Salle  built  a  hjrt, 
and  part  of  its  palisades  were  still  staiuling.  Tlie 
block-house,  store-liouse  and  dwellings  had  been 
burned  by  the  Indians,  and  everything  about  the 
fort  was  in  ruins,  although  it  had  been  occupied 
by  his  countrymen  oidy  three  years  before.* 

*A  more  romantic  piacefor  building  a  fort  could  not  be  found 
In  the  weHtern  country,  and  for  natural  defenses  or  piotur*>Kfju* 
appearance,  it  is  wltliont  a  parallel  In  history.  'J'he  many  re- 
markutde  events  connt-<-!t'(l  witli  this  old  relic  of  unti(iuity,  if 
correctly  Riven,  would  riva!  the  works  of  fiction,  surpassing 
even  the  wild  romances  of  feudal  time>i. 

Tlie  river  at  tills  poini  assumes  a  new  cliaracter — no  longer  a 
dull,  slu«fi;ish  stream— l)ut  is  wide,  shallow  and  rapid,  and  its 
broad  ciiannel  divided  by  many  beautilul  Islands.  Some  <if 
tliese  islands  art"  i»^>w  under  i-uUivation,  while  others  arc  cov- 
ered with  forest  frees,  the  tall  cottonwood  and  out-Kjireadint? 
eli'jH  twldln'4  V)eanty  and  romance  to  the  surroundinsi  scenery. 

Some  of  these  island;*  in  the  river,  losjcctlicr  with  the  land  on 
which  starved  iiock  stands.  l)(>lont,'s  to  Col.  D.  V.  Hitt,  of  Ottawa, 
who  entered  it  nearly  forty  years  ago. 


•if-if^L  •*)**» -^W 


FORT  ST.  LOUIS,  ROCK  FOliT  AND  LE  ROCIIER.        87 

In  tlio  spriiii*;  t»t'  1080,  while  La  S;il!c  witli  two 
(.•oin[)uni(>ns  were  on  tlieir  way  from  Fort  Crevo 
Ceonr  to  Canada,  they  8tcn)ped  at  Starved  Iwoc-k, 
and  their  aecount  ot"  it  is  tlie  first  ji'iven  in  history. 
Willie  they  Were  rowing  their  canoe  up  the  rapid 
stream,  they  noticed  on  the  right  shore  a  remark- 
ahle  clill  of  rocks,  rising  from  the  water's  edge 
and  towering  ahove  the  forest  trees.  Landin<; 
from  their  canoes  they  ascended  this  rock,  and 
found  it  to  be  a  natund  fortress,  where  but  little 
labor  would  be  re(piired  to  make  it  impregiuible, 
so  that  a  few  soldiers  could  hold  it  against  a  host 
of  savages. 

When  La  Salle  arrived  in  Canada  he  sent  word 
to  Tonti  to  fortiiV  this  I'ock  on  the  Illinois  river 
and  make  it  his  stronghold,  as  it  was  more  desira- 
ble than  Fort  Creve  Ceour.  Although  circum- 
stances prevented  Tonti  from  obeying  the  orders 
of  his  superior,  nevertheless  a  fort  was  ])uilt  here 
two  years  afterwards,  and  around  it  clustered  the 
first  colony  in  the  Missi(^sip]>i  valley. 

In  the  tall  of  1682  La  Salle,  with  about  forty 
soldiers  under  his  command,  commenced  building 
a  fort  on  tlie  summit  of  Stai'ved  l-tcn-k.  The 
])lac(?  of  ascending  the  ro(.-k  was  impi-oved  by 
breaking  off  projecting  crags  and  cutting  steps 
in  the  steep  pathway.  The  stunted  cedars  which 
crowned  the  summit  were  cat  away  to  make  room 


^  I 


i 


i 


I 


88 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


for  a  lortification,  and  tlic  i)iari!!;in  of  the  rock  for 
about  two-tliirds  of  its  circumference  was  encir- 
cled l)j  earthworks.  Timbers  were  cut  on  tlie 
river  bottom  below,  and  by  hand  dragged  up  the 
stair-like  pathway  to  build  a  block-house,  a  store- 
house and  dwellings,  and  protect  a  large  portion 
of  the  summit  with  palisades.  A  platform  was 
l)uilt  on  the  truidss  of  two  leading  cedars  that 
stood  on  the  margin  of  the  cliff,  and  on  which  a 
windlass  was  placed  to  draw  water  out  of  the 
river  for  supplying  the  garrison.  All  the  arms, 
stores,  tfcc,  belonging  to  the  French  were  carried 
here  and  jdaced  within  the  stockades,  and  the 
small  cannon,  which  they  had  ])roughtin  a  canoe 
from  Canada,  was  mounted  upon  the  ramparts. 

When  the  fort  was  completed  the  French  flag 
was  swung  to  the  breeze,  the  cannon  tired  thi'ee 
salutes  in  honor  of  Louis  XIV,  and  the  soldiers 
shouted  Vive  le  roL 

The  tort  was  named  St.  Louis  or  Rock  Fort, 
and  in  dedicating  it  Father  Zenobe  called  on  the 
Virgin  to  bless  it,  to  keep  it  in  the  true  faith,  and 
])rotect  it  from  the  enemies  of  the  cross. 

From  the  wooden  rani]:)arts  of  St.  Louis,  which 
were  as  high  and  almost  as  inaccessible  as  an 
eagle's  nest,  the  French  could  look  down  on  the 
Indian  town  below,  and  also  on  the  great  meadow 
which  lay   spread  out  before  them  like  a  map. 


i\ 


.i 


K. 


1\ 


TRADE  WITH  THE  INDIANS. 

Two  ycai's   before,  tin's  meadow  was 


89 


s  a  scene  of 
carnage— a  waste  of  deatji  and  desolation,  black- 
ened hy  tire  and  strewn  witli  the  g-liastly  remains 
of  the  slain  in  an  Iro(|uois  victory— but  thini,^s 
were  now  changed  ;  Indians  to  the  nundjer  of  sTx 
thousand  had  i-cturned,  and  the  river  bank  for  a 
mile  in  extent  was  covered  with  lodges.  Indians 
from  the  neighboring  villages  came  here  t(.  trade, 
l)ringing  with  them  venison,  buffalo  meat,  furs, 
etc.,  to  exchange  for  goods.  At  one  time  there 
were  encanjped  around  the  fort  not  less  than 
twenty  thousand  Indians,  who  came  here  to  trade 
and  seek  protection  from  their  much  dreaded  en- 
emies—the Iroquois. 

La   Salle    being    now    established    within    his 
stockades,  turned  his  attenti(.n  to  trading  \viththe 
Jjidians,  su])plying  them  with  goods  and   taking 
furs  in  exchange.     Enjigrants  from  Canada  came 
here  and  settled  near  the    fort,   many  of  whom 
were  engaged  in  trade  with  the  Indians.     Some 
of  these  adventurers  married  S(juaws,  lived  in  the 
village  M'iih  the  Indians  and  adoi)ted   their  dress, 
liabits   and    customs.     The   colony    was   named 
Louisiana,  in   honor  of  the  king  of  France,  and 
according  to  a  map  drawn  at  that  time  it  included 
within    its  boundaries  all   the  Mississippi  valley. 
This  vast  territory  La  Salle   claimed   dominion 
over  by  virtue  of  his  patent,  and  he  commenced 


90 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  UIVEK. 


dividing  it  out  to  his  IVicnds,  l)y  giving  tlicrn 
})oniiits  to  trade  witli  tlio  Ijidiaiis.  lie  Mutlior- 
izcd  Ricliard  Bosley  to  establish  a  trading  ])()st  at 
Caliokia,  and  PhiTiij)  De  Bcuro  one  at  Green  Ray, 
but  compelling  them  to  pay  a  royalty  to  him  on 
all  goods  sold  and  furs  bought. 


I 


. 


TRADE    .,i.xH  THE  INDIANS. 

As  soon  as  a  trading  post  was  established  at 
Fort  St.  Louis,  Indians  from  dilferent  parts  of  the 
country  came  hither  to  exchange  furs  and  pelts 
for  goods,  which  was  done  at  large  profit  to  the 
traders.  Tomahawks,  knives,  Arc,  made  of  flint 
were  superseded  by  those  of  steel ;  blankets,  as 
wearing  apparel,  took  the  place  of  the  luiavy  buf- 
falo robe,  and  to  the  same  extent  guns  superseded 
bows  and  arrows.  A  blanket  worth  three  dollars 
in  Quebec,  would  bring  one  hundred  dollars  in 
furs,  and  a  tomahawk  that  cost  fifty  cents  would 
sell  for  twentv  dollars  among  the  Indians. 

IVo  years  after  Fort  St.  Louis  was  built,  La 
Salle,  leaving  Tonti  in  command,  returned  to 
Canada,  and  from  thence  sailed  to  France.  Being 
assisted  by  the  court  of  France,  he  on  the  follow- 
ing year,  with  three  ships  loaded  with  emigrants, 
sailed  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  for  the  pur])ose  of 
establishing  a  colonj^  at  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 


FLIGHT  OF  INDIANS  AND  ATTACK  OF  FORT. 


91 


sipjn  river.  This  enterprise  tailed,  and  La  Salle 
was  assassinated  by  some  of  his  own  men  while 
on  his  way  to  Illinois^ 

Althoui'-h  La  Salle  was  dead  his  colony  on  the 
Illinois  river  continued  to  flourish,  and  the  fur 
trade  became  a  source  of  great  wealth.  For 
eighteen  years  this  trade  was  conducted  by  Tonti 
and  La  Frost,  the  former  living  at  St.  Louis,  and 
the  latter  in  Canada.  Furs  were  sent  east  in 
canoes,  and  in  a  like  manner  goods  for  the  In- 
dian trade  were  brought  west.  In  navigating 
the  lakes  a  number  of  canoes  were  lashed  together, 
and  with  sails  hoisted  and  oars  applied,  they 
would  coast  along  the  shore.  The  connection 
between  the  lake  and  Illinois  river  was  effected 
by  crossing  the  portage  through  Mud  lake,  be- 
tween Chicago  and  Des  Plains  river.f 

FLIGHT  OF  INDIANS  AND  ATTACK  OF  FOET. 


of 
is- 


Two  years  after  building  Fort  St.  Louis,  it  was 
attacked  by  a  large  b(Kly  of  the  Iroquois  Indians, 

♦In  the  summer  of  KIHii,  ToTiti,  at  liis  own  expense,  with  forty- 
men  in  canoes,  (leseendt'd  the  river  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  in 
search  of  La  SaUe,  but  did  not  succeed  In  finding  him.  Again 
In  l(i.s;»  he  made  a  like  tour  hi  searcli  of  the  remnant  of  the 
colony,  and  for  the  pvirpose  of  finding  tlie  hones  of  the  great 
explorer  in  order  to  carry  them  hack  with  him  ;  hut  tills  expe- 
dition, like  the  otlit-r,  prov*'d  a  failure. 

tThis  passa»;e  from  the  lllinolN  river  to  Ijake  Michigan,  was 
knowu  by  the  Indians  long  before  the  French  came  to  the 


92 


FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


M 


i^- 


^! 


who  held  it  in  siei2;o  six  days.  Tonti  was  in  coni- 
rnaiid  of  tlie  fort,  which  contained  at  the  time 
fifty  F'rencii  soldiers,  and  ahout  one  hunih'ed 
Indian  allies,  and  with  this  small  force  pnt  the 
besiegers  to  flight. 

It  was  a  bright  clear  day  in  the  latter  part  of 
May,  and  the  great  meadow  was  green  with  grass, 
intermixed    with   flowers   of    various    lines ;  the 

country,  tuid  it  was  used  by  the  American  pioneers  in  the  early 
Kcttlcnient  of  llu!  west. 

Jn  tlie  sprinf?  of  l,s2",  John  Hamlin,  a  trader  at  Peoria, having 
on  hand  about  one  hundred  l)arrels  o)  i)ork,  whitih  he  had  re- 
ec^ived  from  S(Mtli'is  in  exchange  for  goods,  conceived  a  novel 
idea  of  shippinji  it  to  I'ort  Oearl)orn,  (noAv  (Chicago),  where  a 
good  price  couhl  be  obtained,  lie  hired  a  keel  boat  which  had 
brought  emigrants  to  Peoria,  loaded  it  with  pork,  and  started 
it  up  the  river  in  charge  of  three  boatmen.  ()n  the  following 
day  Mr.  flamlin,  accompanied  by  Elder  Walker  and  .loseph 
Smith  (Oad  Joe)  started  for  Fort  Dearborn  inaHinall  iMacklnaw 
t)oat  loaded  wit  li  furs.  The  wind  being  from  the  soutli,  with 
all  the  sails  hoisted  the  l)oat  went  up  the  river  at  the  rate  ot  ten 
miles  per  hour,  and  <n'erto(jk  the  keel  boat  near  the  mouth  of 
JJureau  creek. 

On  reaching  the  rapids  it  was  found  impossit)le  to  get  the 
loaded  keel  boat  up  the  strong  current,  so  it  was  unloaded  and 
taken  up  empty,  and  llie  pork  carried  up  witli  nuuiy  loads  of 
the  .NfaclOnaw  boat.  When  al)ove  the  rapids  the  pork  was 
again  loailed  into  the  keel  Ijoat,  and  siie  continued  on  her  way 
toward  the  lakts. 

At  the  mouth  of  Des  Plains  river  tlie  keel  boat  was  unloaded 
and  8<'nt  back  to  Peoria,  wliile  the  Mackinaw  l>oat  continue<l 
on  lier  way  to  Fort  Dcarliorn.  Alter  unloading  the  furs  tlie 
Mackinaw  boat  returned  to  the  mouth  of  Des  Plains,  and  at 
dill'crent  loads  carried  the  pork  througli  to  the  fort. 

'I'lie  Mackinaw  boiit,  wlicn  hea\ily  londt-d,  drew  three  feetand 
a  half  of  water,  but  the  streams  being  high  it  jmssed  the  portage 
from  Des  Plains  tiirough  Mud  lake  Into  Chicago  river  without 
getting  aground. 


I 


r. 


\      t 


«ia*a..tE>! 


FLIOnT  OF  INDIANS  AND  ATTACK  OF  FORT.        93 


of 


lie 
at 

id 


trees  were  in  full  leaf,  and  the  air  was  frai^rant 
with  bhjssoms  of  the  wild  plum  and  crah- 
a|>})le;  birds  were  sin^in<i;  among  the  hranches  of 
trees,  and  s(|uirrels  chirping  in  the  thiek  river 
tind)er,  while  at  a  distance  was  heard  the  sweet 
notes  of  the  robin  and  meadow  lark.  In  the 
sliade  of  the  willows  and  elms  on  the  river  bank 
lay  the  doe  and  her  fawn,  lulled  to  slumber  by 
the  hum  of  the  wild  bee  and  grasshopper. 

All  was  (puet  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  the  inmates 
were  delighted  with  the  beauty  of  the  surround- 
ing scenery.  To  the  west,  in  plain  view,  lay  the 
great  town  of  La  Vantum,  with  its  many  hundred 
lodges  built  along  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
around  which  were  collected  thousands  of  human 
bein*4S.  On  the  race  track,  above  the  town,  war- 
riors mounted  on  jionies  were  practicing  liorse- 
manshi}),  while  lar  in  the  distance  squaws  were 
seen  engage<l  in  planting  corn  or  gathering  greens 
for  their  family  meal. 

It  was  Sabbath  nujrning,  the  fourth  after 
Easter;  all  the  inmates  of  Fort  St.  Louis  were 
dressed  in  their  best  apparel,  an<l  seated  under 
the  shade  of  cedars,  awaitini--  reliLdous  ser'  ices. 
Father  Zenobe,  tlressed  in  his  long  black  I'obe, 
with  a  large  gold  cross  hanging  Irom  his  neck, 
was  about  to  commence  services,  when  a  lone 
Indian  was  seen  on  the  bottom  j»rairie  going  vvi  ;t- 


m 


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1 

f 

1 

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; 

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94         FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

ward,  and  nrgiri^j:  IiIh  pony  forward  at  the  top  of 
its  speed. 

Father  Zenoljc  after  cone]udiii<i^  liis  sernioii, 
was  about  to  a(hniiiister  the  sacrament,  when  tlie 
sentinel  Jit  the  ^^ate  fired  his  gnn  to  i^ive  an  alarm. 
At  this  sigtial  the  mecitinii;  broke  nj),  and  every 
one  ran  to  his  post,  thinking  tliat  the  fort  was 
about  to  be  attacked.  On  looking  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  town  everything  a}>j)eared  in  commo- 
tion. Warriors  mounted  on  ponies  were  riding 
back  and  forth  at  full  gallo]^,  squaws  and  pap- 
pooses  running  hither  and  thither  in  wild  con- 
fusion ;  drums  beating,  warriors  yelling,  while  the 
cries  and  lamentations  of  the  frightened  people 
could  be  heard  even  at  the  fort.  Tonti,  with  three 
companions,  came  down  from  the  fort,  boarded  a 
canoe,  and  witli  all  haste  ])roceeded  down  the 
river  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  this  excitement, 
and  upoTi  his  arrival   the  mystery  was  explained. 

A  scout  liad  arrived  with  the  intelligence  that 
a  large  body  of  Irocpiois  were  only  ten  leagues 
distant  and  marching  on  the  town.  The  tragedy 
of  four  years  })revious  was  fresh  in  their  minds, 
aiul  fearing  a  like  result  caused  them  to  go  wild 
with  terror.  The  chiefs  and  warriors  collected 
around  Tonti,  beseeching  him  to  })rotect  them 
from  the  scalping  knives  and  tomahawks  of  their 
enemies,  in  accordance  with  La  Salle's  promise. 


FLIGHT  OF  INDIANS  AND  ATTACK  OF  FORT. 


95 


f 


Tonti  in  reply  said  tlitit  liis  force  was  not  sufficient 
to  afl'ord  them  protection,  hut  advised  them  to 
collect  their  warriors  and  defend  the  town.  The 
French,  who  lived  in  the  town  with  their  wives 
and  a  few  Indian  friends,  Hed  to  tiie  tort  for  secu- 
rity, hut  the  warriors,  hein^  seized  with  a  panic 
and  fearing  another  massacre,  in  great  haste  Hed, 
some  iroiiiii'  down  the  river  in  canoes,  while 
others  mounted  their  ponies  and  galloped  west- 
ward across  the  country.  Soon  alter  their 
dej>arture  the  invaders  came,  two  thousand  stnwig, 
hut  they  found  a  harren  victory,  as  not  one  living 
soul  was  left  in  La  Vatitum. 

When  the  Inxpiois  found  their  inteixled  vic- 
tims had  fled,  they  attacke<l  the  fort  and  held  it 
in  siejjfe  six  days.  Fora  numhcr  of  davs  the  Indians 
continued  to  lire  on  the  fort  from  a  m;ighl>oring 
clilf,  hut  without  producing  any  effect.  The  fort 
not  returning  the  lire,  emboldened  the  assailants, 
and  each  day  they  came  closer,  and  occupied  the 
timber  near  the  base  of  the  rock,  with  the  inten- 
tion, no  doubt,  of  making  an  assault.  But  when 
thev  were  in  close  ranji-e,  the  jz:uns  were  lu'ouicht 
to  bear  on  them,  and  they  received  the  fire  of 
both  muskets  and  cannon.  Many  were  killed, 
others  wounded,  while  the  survivors,  being 
stricken  with  a  ])anic,  fled  in  great  hasti;,  leaving 

their  dead  and  wounded  behind. 
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96        FRENCH  AMD  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

No  Iru(|Uoi8  In<lian8  were  ever  seen  in  that 
vicinity  afterwards,  and  they  never  made  anotlier 
raid  on  tlie  lilinoians. 

For  many  days  after  the  India?is  were  r(!})nised, 
the  French  remained  williin  tiieii'  fortifications, 
and  did  not  ventnre  «h»wn  from  tiie  rock  until 
convinced  that  tlie  enemy  had  left  the  conntrv. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


RETURN  OF  THE  VIOTOIilODS  ARMY. 

In  theyoiir  l(>87,  Totiti  with  fifty  P^reiicli  sol- 
(liors  and  two  IiniidnHl  Illinois  warriors,  went  to 
(/anada  and  joined  the  army  of  Goverfior  Den- 
onvillc,  in  an  exjttHlition  aij:ainst  the  Indians  south 
of  Lake  Ontario.  Denonvilles  anny  was  victo- 
rious; many  t(»wns  alonjx  the  Moliawk  river  were 
hiiriied  and  a  larixe  number  (A'  sc'al[)s  taken. 
After  this  vietorv,  the  armv  returiit'd  U>  Canada 
where  it  was  dishanded,  when  Toiiti  with  iiis 
soldiers  aiid  Indian  allies  returned  to  Illinois. 
On  their  return  they  were  aceotnpanied  l>y  a 
num])er  ot  emiurant  families,  amoui;  whom  were 
many  women,  wives  and  dau<:jhter8  of  traders 
and  soldier?.  For  weeks  the  voyairtnirs  in  their 
canoes  eoasttMl  aloi  ^  the  shore  of  the  lakes,  ami 
cjiinjiin"/-  at  ni»fht  on  its  heacli  without  tents  to 
ju'otcet  them  from  llu;  inclement  wcatl".;r.  On 
reachin*'  the  mouth  nf  Chicaijo  river  thev  ascend- 
ed  it,  crossing   the  portage  into   Des  Plains,  and 


I'-TT- 


98        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


Ttt 


goon  this  lar^e  fleet  of  canoes  was  sailing  down 
the  Illinois  river. 

It  was  a  beautiful  clear  niornin*::  in  midsum- 
mer; the  bright  silvery  rays  of  the  sun  rellecteil 
from  the  ripplin*;  waters  of  the  river,  as  it  glided 
swiftly  by.  The  fresh  cooling  breeze  and  the 
Bongs  of  the  birds  added  much  to  the  h)velines8 
of  tlie  scene.  The  occuj)ants  of  Fort  St.  Louis, 
after  the  morning  prayer  and  exhoitation  i)y 
Father  Allonez,  were  collected  along  the  brink  of 
the  rock,  watching  thehnny  tri]>e  as  tliey  sporte«i 
over  the  sand  and  stones  in  the  clear  shallow 
water.  While  thus  eu'^aucil  thev  were  startled 
to  hear  the  sound  of  a  bugle  u|>  the  river,  and  on 
looking  in  that  direction  were  much  surprised  to 
see  the  broad  stream  covered  with  canoes,  fast 
approaching  the  fort.  On  came  this  large  tleet, 
with  flags  flying,  drums  beatint^,  and  the  loud 
(theering  (A  both  Krefich  and  Indians  announc- 
inir  the  return  oi  M  uiti's  victorious  armv.  As 
this  fleet  of  canoes  passed  swiftly  down  the  rapid 
current,  the  cannon  on  the  fort  b(H)mcd  forth  loud 
peals  of  welcome  to  returning  friendts. 

There  was  great  rejoicing  at  the  fort;  wives 
and  daughters  of  soldiers  and  traders  had  come 
thither  to  join  their  friends  after  years  of  sejiara- 
tion,  and  their  meeting  was  an  att'ecting  one. 

On  the  night  following  the  return  of  T«uiti's 


! 


.«._^ 


TONTI  VISITS  TUB    WINNEBAGO    COUNTRY. 


90 


1X1 

iiic- 
As 

[lid 
olid 


Hniiy,  a  wine  BUpper  and  hall  was  given  in  honor 
of  the  (»cca8ion,  and  the  great  hall  ot"  tljo  tort 
rang  with  songs,  jests,  music,  and  otiier  deinon- 
strali«)n8  of  joy.  La<lies  from  the  fasliionahle 
society  of  Miuitreal  gave  an  air  of  retinement  t<» 
the  hall,  and  such  a  gay  party  was  never  hefore 
witnessed  in  the  wilds  of  the  west.  Mueli  wine 
was  <h*ank,  musie  sounded,  and  tlie  joyous  iaugli 
of  the  dancers  rtiug  forth  on  tlie  clear  night  air. 
Father  AUonez  having  spent  twenty  years  among 
savages  in  the  west,  without  mingling  in  retine<l 
s<»eiety,  hecame  so  overjoyed  by  the  elfeeN  of 
wine  and  gay  l>arty,  that  his  soul  was  filled  with 
ra]>ture,  and  as  he  passed  to  and  fro  anntng  the 
fair  ladies,  offered  to  hestow  his  hlessing  upon 
them. 

While  the  P^'ench  at  the  fort  were  enjoying 
themselves,  the  Indians  at  La  Vantum  were  also 
having  a  gay  time  in  honor  of  returning  friends. 
Many  of  their  favorite  dogs  were  killed,  a  feast  j)re- 
pared,  and  they  danced  arouiul  the  scalps  taken  in 
their  late  expedition.  The  .sound  of  their  druni.s 
a!)<l  the  yells  of  dancers  were  heard  at  the  fc»rt, 
and  were  responded  to  hy  the  luMnning  of  cannon. 


TONTI  VISITS  THK  WINNEBAGO  COUNTRY. 

For  a  number  ot  years  the  Winnebagoes  ot  the 
north  had  been  tresi>a.ssing  on  the  Illin<»ians  by 


1 


w^^m 


J 


100        FRKMCH  AND  INDIANS  OK  ILLINOIS  KIVRR. 

Iiiintiri^  <»n  tlicir  ImikIs.  Duriii}^  tlio  winter, 
Winm'l){»g<»  Innitcrs  would  go  f»>  Lake  Weiio  tu 
collect  furs;  someiinies .  visit  tlic  Jllinuis  river 
jiiid  kill  lar^^e  (jUiUitities  ot"  Imflalo,  and  leave  tlieir 
carcasses  as  food  for  wolves  or  to  decay  u|*""  the 
]»rairie.  An  ill  feeling- liatl  existed  between  these 
tribes  tor  a  loni;  time:  a  nund>er  of  hunters  from 
eacli  had  been  killed,  and  open  hostilities  were 
about  to  commence.  The  Illinoians  weri'  collect- 
ing their  warriors  from  tlie  dilferent  villaire.--  for 
the  j)ur|)ose  of  invading'  the  enemy's  conntiy, 
while  the  Winneba^oes  were  making  jtrcparations 
f(»r  a  raid  <m  tlu;  towns  along  the  Illinois  river. 

Tonti,  knowing  that  a  war  woidd  ruin  the  fur 
tra«le,  an<l  perhaps  endanger  his  own  fnrtitlcd 
]>osition,  resolved  on  a  bold  schenu"  to  j»reveiit  it. 
Knowing  that  the  Winnebagoes  would  collect  at 
their  principal  town  located  high  up  on  Ii<>ck 
river,  about  the  niiddle  of  Septend)er,  for  the 
purpose  of  h(>l<ling  their  annual  feast,  resolved  to 
meet  tlu^n  there  with  his  Illinois  allies,  and 
adjust  all  variances. 

Tonti,  with  twenty  PriMich  soldiers  and  twenty 
Illinois  chiefs,  among  whom  was  Chassau!:«>i«c,  the 
principal  chief  of  the  trilx^,  all  mounted  on  |)()nics, 
started  for  the  Winnebago  country.  On  arriving 
at  their  principal  town  where  the  dilferent  bands 
had  assembled,  they  were  received  as  friends  and 


.U! 


TONTI  VISITS  TFIK  VVINNKBAOO  rOUNTKY 


loi 


tr('jit(;<l  witli  tmicli  rcsjMH't.     Tiif  cliit't's  atid  war- 
riors collected  aroMiid  the  FVcm-li,  most  of  vvliom 


had 


iM'vrr  loo 


kcd 


U|)o|| 


till'   t 


ace  of"  a  w 


•hit 


V  man 


JMlorc.  and  rc/ai'dctl  them  as  snjtcrior  hciii^s. 
The  visitoi's  wen-  eiitertaine(l  in  the  council- 
house,  and  feasted  on  do^  meat,  ho?iev,  and  all 
tile  deli('iou^  h»od  which  the  eonntrv  atlorded. 
On  the  followin^j  day  after  their  arrival  tlie  chiefs 

a  reliifious  (hmce,  an< 


md  principal  warriors  lu 


1' 


•Id 


d 


the  straiii;*'  perfornuiiute  irreatly  amurtcd  the 
visitors. 

The  dancern  were  naked  and  their  hodicK 
jiainted,  some  with  whiti;  and  others  with  red  or 
hiack  clay.  On  the  head  <»f  each  was  a  wreath 
of  turkey  feathers  ;nid  a  pair  of  deer's  Ikumh, 
causiuij  them  to  look  more  like  devils  than  hu- 
man hein«r.^.  At  the  sound  of  drums,  tlutes  and 
rattliiiii  L'ourds,  the  dam-in^''  commenced, and  con- 
tinued without  cessation  until  the  dancers  became 
exhausted.  As  the  loud  strains  of  music  anima- 
ted the  dancers,  they  would  leap,  hop,  and  jumj) 
U|)  and  down  in  <juick  succession,  with  tlieir 
mouths  open,  ton«;ues  hanu:inLr  out,  and  (»ccasion- 
ally  Viilling  at  the  toji  of  tlu'ir  voice* 

Peace  was  made  between   the  tribes,  the  wain- 

*'riils  rt'iimrkHble  danc*-  of  I  lie  Wltiiu'lmK(K'h  Is  a  rt-MKiouH 
•  'Xeiclsc.  and  (Hil.>-  iMTtonmd  al  Uicii  aiMiUiil  l«'a*st.  I  have 
\viti)cKs«>d  a  similar  portoriiutuctuiiKiiig  the  howling  JU'rviKhes 
lu  CJrund  Carlo,  Kgypt. 


^* 


1( 


102       FKBNOH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

purn  belt  excliaiiged,  and  as  a  [)lLHl^e()f  ^'ood  faith 
the  Winnebagoes  ])reHented  Cliassagoac,  the  head 
cliief,  with  two  of  their  most  beautiful  maidens 
for  wivea  With  these  two  maidens  astride  of 
their  ponies,  and  a  great  variety  of  presents,  Tonti, 
with  his  French  companions  and  Indian  allies, 
returned  to  Fort  St.  Louis. 


II 


THE  UNSCRUPULOUS  PRIEST. 

After  the  brutal  assassination  of  La  Salle  in 
Texas  by  some  of  his  own  men,  his  brother, 
Father  Cavelier,  a  Jesuit  priest,  with  five  com- 
panions, started  for  Fort  St.  Louis,  on  the  Illinois 
river.  In  an  old  leaky  canoe  they  ascended  the 
Mississippi,  passing  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  and 
Missouri,  and  at  last  reached  the  placid  waters  of 
the  Illinois.  After  two  months  of  hard  labor  in 
forcing  their  frail  craft  up  the  swift  current  of  the 
Father  ot  Waters,  annoyed  by  mus<piitoes,  and 
sutfering  from  hunger,  they  at  last  reached  their 
destination,  where  they  received  a  hearty  wel- 
come from  their  countrymen. 

On  the  14:th  day  of  September,  1688,  while 
rowing  their  canoe  up  the  rapid  current,  they 
saw  on  the  right  bank  a  high  rocky  clitl,  towering 
above  the  forest  trees,  and  crowned  witli  palisades. 
As  they  drew  near,  a  troop  of  Indians,  headed  by 
a  white  man  in  French  uniform,  desceuded  from 


THE  UNSCRUPULOUS  PRIEST. 


103 


the  rocky  tortress  and  discluirt^cd  tlieir  ^^iiiik  in 
Iionor  ol'tlicir  arrival,  Hlu)Utin«^  at  tliu  same  time, 
Vive  le  roi.  Tiie  voyageurs  landed  from  their 
eanoe,  aseended  the  clilT,  and  were  within  the 
stockadeH  of  Kor^  St.  Louis.  Here  were  Mock 
and  stone  houses,  a  magazine,  aiul  a  small  chapel, 
as  well  as  many  Indian  lodges,  ()ceuj)ied  by  the 
allies  ot  the  French.  Father  (yavelier,  on 
viewing  the  scene  around  him,  was  so  overjoyed 
that  he  fell  on  his  knees,  and  with  u]>lifted  hands 
returned  tlianks  to  the  Holy  Virgin  for  lier 
guardian  care  in  proteeting  him  from  evil  in  his 
long  and  dangerous  journey. 

At  the  time  Father  Cavelier's  i>arty  arrived  at 
Kort  St.  Louis,  Tonti  was  ahsent  on  a  mission  of 
|)eace  in  the  Winnebago  country,  but  they  were 
kindly  received  by  his  lieutenant,  Bellefountain. 
The  clothes  of  the  travelers  were  torn  into  frag- 
ments while  rambling  through  the  cane-brakes 
and  chaparrdy  at  the  south,  so  the  kind  lieuten- 
ant supj)lied  them  with  new  ap})arel  out  of  the 
garrison  stores  A  fine  satin  robe,  with  a  gold 
cross  and  other  sacred  emblems,  had  been  sent 
from  France  a  short  tim(!  before  bv  the  bishoi)  of 
Rouen,  to  be  presented  to  the  most  devoted 
Jesuit  in  North  America.  The  priests  of  Quebec 
awarded  this  gift  to  Father  Clirisp,  who  had 
spent   a  long  life  among  the  Indians   of  Lake 


T 


104       FRKNCH   AND  INDIANS   (>F    ILMNnlS  RIVKR. 

Ilunm,  Imt  of  lato,  cliapl.-iiii  at  Kurt  St.  Louis. 
'IMic  cloak  and  i;nM  t'liildciiis  wito  soiit  west.  Imt 
iM'tuiv  tliciv  arriv('(j  Fatlii-r  (yliri>|)  liad  <lii'»l,  coii- 
scijiu'iitly,  tlioy  ivinaiiu'«l  at  tlic  t"oi-t  miclaiiiH'd. 
In  till'  ju'cst'iico  «tt"  all  the  soMiers,  and  a  lar;:v 
collection  ot"  Indians,  Hrllctountain  [ncsiMitcd 
Father  Cavelicr  with  these  a^ticle^i,  and  in  retnrn 
the  holy  lather  raiset]  his  hands  luMivenwacd,  in- 
vokin<^  (rod's  hlessin;;  on  all  the  ociiipants  of 
Fort  St.  Louis. 

When  Tonti   returned  to  the  F<»rt,  lie  was  sur- 
jtrised   and    much    deliuhtecl    to    meet    vvitli    his 


d 


countrymen,  especMally  the  orotlierot  hisesteemei 
friend,  La  Salle.  On  iiKjuirin^  after  the  health 
and  j)ros])ects  ot  I..a  Salle,  the  unsei'Ujiulous 
])rie8t  replied  that  he  had  left  him  in  excellent 
healtli  and  s[)irits,  and  his  ni^w  eolony  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississii)j)i  was  likely  to  l)e  a  <!:reat 
success.  Tiie  ohject  of  the  priest  in  concealing' 
the  death  of  La  Salle,  was  to  use  his  credit  in 
drawin*;  on  Tonti  for  means  to  carry  him  to  Can- 
ada, and  from  rhenee  to  France.  Consc'piently, 
in  Ills  l)n)ther's  name,  he  drew  o»i  Tonti  for  four 
thousand  livres  wortli  of  furs,  which   were  placed 


in  two  canoes,  and  the  party  continued  on  th<'ir 
way  towanl  Canada.  On  arriving- at  Quehec,  the 
party  sold  tlieir  furs  and  with  the  proceeds  of  the 
Bale  paid  tlieir  passage  to  France. 


i%i..ufiiik 


^ 


niAHSAOOAO       HI8  DKATII   AND  BURIAL. 


105 


Till'  l.ilc  of  \'>i  Siillc,  itii'l  the  iiii|M»Kili(ni  pnuj- 
ficiMl  (III  Tntili  liv  till'  liv|KuTiticjil  prii'st  itinl  liis 
corrjpaiiitMis,  was  not  known  nt  F(»it  St.  Louis 
until  the  following:  vi'ur. 


CnA8HA(iOAC  — 1118  DKATII    AND  IIUKIAL. 

For  iiiort'  than  litty  years  (/liassa^M>a(*  was  head 
cliicfnl'  tlic  Illinois  In<lians,  and  liy  flicin  In-  was 
IovimI,  lionori'(l  and  olti-ycd.  (^ii-cninstancrs  canscd 
this  chief  to  iiijun;  (.'.\t('nsiv«ly  in  history,  and  hy 
the  early  French  explorers  he  is  represented  as  a 
ni»hle  specimen  ot"  his  race.  In  a  letter  ot  Father 
Zenohe's  to  a  friend  at  (^lU'hec,  the  chief  is  de- 
scrihed  as  heinj^  very  lar:L;:e.  with  hiii;h  forehead 
and  sharp,  expressise  eyes,  in  his  nose  he  wore 
a  lar^e  riiii:;  made  of  hnJlalo  horn,  and  around  his 
a?d<les  were  wreaths  ol  small  hells  constructed  of 
turtle  shells,  while  on  ids  liead  was  a  crown  of 
I'au'le  feathers. 

In  the  pillery  of  Jesuit  collection  in  the  city 
of  fioucn,  can  rn)W  be  .seen  a  life-sized  portrait  of 
Cliassau'onc,  which  shows  him  to  have  Iteen  a  tine 
specimiMi  of  his  race,  |)iiysically  as  well  as  men- 
tally. Whether  the  artist  j>ainted  this  portrait 
from  life  or  descri[)tion  is  not  known,  hut  it  is  a 
:;ood  representation  of  the  persini  descrihe(i  in 
history. 

Father  Ilenne})in  in  his  journal  says,  Cliassa- 


i 

X 


T 


106      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF   ILLINOIS  RIVKR. 

goac  for  :i  tiiiio  was  a  true  dirtcipli*  of  Christ,  l)iit 
at'terwanls  became  a  cliild  of  jxMMlititm,  having 
ret'cri'iice  no  doubt  t<>  his  plurality  of  wives, 
which  |)ra(!tice  the  priest  eouM  not  persuach'  hiin 
to  give  up.  On  ac(!ouut  of  his  Christian  tiiitli, 
and  Ids  tiilelity  to  the  French  colony,  the  bisliop 
of  Rouen  sent  him  many  presents,  consisting  iA' 
gold  images,  crosses,  crucifixes,  &c.  These  pres- 
ents were  kej)t  sacred,  and  no  doubt  imd  niucij  to 
do  in  strengtheinng  his  faith  in  religion. 

It  was  a  bright  (hiy  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
summer  of  1714 — all  was  quite  at  La  Van- 
tum — warriors  were  fishing  along  the  river  bank 
or  engaged  in  siiooting  at  a  mark  ;  8<iuaws  at- 
tending to  their  domestic  aftairs  or  looking  after 
scores  of  naked  children  playing  in  the  dirt.  All 
of  a  sudden  the  death-knell  was  heard,  throwing 
the  whole  town  into  confusion,  when  old  and 
young  were  seen  running  hither  and  thither  to 
learn  the  cause.  The  great  chief,  Chassagoac,  in 
the  fullness  of  his  years,  liad  fell  dead  while 
standing  at  the  entrance  of  his  lodge.  For  his 
death  all  were  in  mourning,  and  the  wailing  and 
lamentation  of  the  people  were  heard  at  the  fort 
nearly  two  miles  disUmt.  On  the  following  day 
the  French  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  as  well  as  th<Kse 
belonging  to  the  colony,  attended  the  funeral  of 
the  fallen  chief  and  gave  him  a  Christian  burial. 


dilU^ 


CHA8SA0OA0  —  UI8  DKATII  AND  UUKIAL. 


107 


His  many  wivcf,  clilMroii  and  grandchildren  to- 
gether witli  all  the  warriors  of  the  towfi,  hlacketi 
their  facen,  and  with  loud  wailiiiLT  t'olluwed  the 
remains  to  the  «;rave.  Father  Felix  pronpnneed 
ahsoliition  over  the  hody,  sprinkling  it  with  holy 
water,  according  t(»  Jesnit  enstoin,  and  ollered 
prayers  to  the  Holy  Virgin  to  admit  the  spirit  to 
the  paradise  alxtve. 

A  grave  having  heen  dng  on  a  gravelly  knoll 
in  the  rear  of  the  town,  tlu;  beloved  ehief,  with 
all  the  j)resents  given  him  hy  the  priest,  consist- 
ing of  gold  and  silver  crosses,  inniges,  erncitixes, 
iVc.,  were  hnried  with  him.  A  mound  was 
raised  over  the  grave,  on  which  Father  Felix 
erected  a  large  cross  hearing  a  Latin  inscription. 

On  a  knoll  immediately  hack  of  the  old  towti 
oi  Utica,  the  mound  which  is  supposed  to  have 
heen  raised  over  Chassagoac  is  still  to  he  seen,  an 
well  as  the  cavity  in  the  earth  near  by  from 
which  the  dirt  to  erect  it  was  taken. 

About  sixty  years  ago,  Waba,  a  Pottowatomie 
chief  of  some  note,  learning  from  tradition  that 
N.ilnable  trinkets  were  buricMl  in  this  mound, 
opeiu'd  it  and  robbed  it  ol"  its  treasure. 


CHAPTER  X. 


^■W 


LE    FORT    DES    MTAMIS. 

In  tlie  year  16^4,  La  Harre,  (xovenior  of  Can- 
ada, IxMiig  j(^al()us  of"  La  Salle's  power  ami  in- 
tiuLMicc,  concocted  a  plan  to  defeat  his  enterprise, 
and  tlierchy  apj)rt»j>riate  t(»  himself  ami  friends 
the  great  wealth  to  be  derived  from  the  I'lir  trade. 
UiuU'r  a  ])lea  that  La  ISalle  had  forfeited  his 
charter  hy  ii"rantini|;  other  ])arties  permits  to  trade 
with  the  Indians,  sent  an  army  olHcer, (yajttain 
De  Bouiiis,  fo  Illinois  with  authority  to  take  com- 
mand of  F()rt  St.  Louis.  Tonti  hein:;'  in  com- 
mand of  the  loiM,  surrendered  it  to  tlu^  usurjK;r, 
who  also  took  possession  of  all  the  <:^oods  and  t'urs 
at  the  trading!;  post.  A  few  monthti  after  Captain 
De  Bougis  as.siimed  comnuuid,  he  became  con- 
vinced that  he  was  holding-  the  fort  without  an- 
thority,  conse(|uently,  lie  gave  it  up  to  Tonti  and 
returned  to  Cana<la. 

On  the  foUowim^  year  after  Dc;  Bouiris  had  I'e- 
lincpiished  his  command  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  a  tall, 


« 


■.Wmi'W'MWi^' 


LE  FORT    DE8  MIAMIS. 


109 


s|>iire  iiKin,  calling;  liiiiiscU"  Captain  Richard  Pi- 
Ictte,  ma<le  liis  a|>})C'araiiee  at  the  pirrisoii.  Tliis 
man  liad  heeii  a  captain  in  theanny,  l»nt  tor  some 
cause  was  dismissed  tVoin  service,  and  in  order  to 
retrieve  his  t'ortunecanic  west.  Pilette  remained 
at  tlie  tort  a  nmnhcr  ot'  davs  witlioiit  lettin;;  his 
business  he  known,  but  wlien  the  proper  titne 
came  lie  drew  from  lii?-  jwu-ket  a  commission,  un- 
licr  the  u'ovci-nor's  >eal,  authorizing;  Inm  to  take 
commanih  Tojiti  <icined  the  power  of  the  gov- 
ernor to  appoint  a  commander,  as  tlie  fort  was 
private  pr<.>pei-1y — having'  bt'<^n  built  and  main- 
tamed  by  La  Salle  at  his  own  expense,  in  accord- 
ance with  a  charter  fr«»m  tlu^  Kinj;,'  of  France.  In 
a  pompous  Jiianner  Pilette  pi'orlaimed  himself 
commander  of  Fort  St.  liouis  by  virtue  of  his 
commission,  and  addres.-in;;:  the  soldiers  in  a  tone 
of  authority,  ordered  them  to  lay  hold  of  T<»nti 
and  place  him  umlcr  i:u;ird.  Without  makiui^ 
any  reply  Tonti,  with  his  iron  hand,  knocked 
•  lown  the  wouhl  be  commander,  and  at  the  same 
time  relieving;-  him  ol  tliree  of  his  front  teeth. 
Before  the  usurper  could  reu.un  his  feet,  the 
soldiers  carried  him  out.vid.-  of  the  gateway,  set- 
ting him  on  the  roik,  and  gave  him  a  start  (h»wn- 
vv;ird>.  The  rock  being  covered  with  sleet, 
Pih'tte  could  not  recover  his  footing  or  st«>p  his 
ih.'scent,  but  in  that   position  slid   to  tlie  bottom, 


I 

i 


!  , 


~i-rT 


110       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

tearing  his  pantaloons  into  tVa<^nients,  and  bruising 
himself  on  the  sliarj*  crags  of  rocks. 

Captain  Pilette,  bi'uised  and  bleeding,  his 
clothing  torn  ahnost  olf  liitn  while  sliding  down 
the  rock,  made  his  way  to  La  Vantum,  where  he 
found  sympathy  among  his  countrymen  and  their 
Indian  frienils.  While  here  he  concocted  a  ))lan 
to  gain  power  of  the  Indians,  and  secure  their 
trade,  in  defiance  of  La  Salle's  charter  and  Fort 
St.  Louis.  With  eighteen  Frenchmen  and  about 
fifty  warriors  he  went  to  Buffalo  Kock,  and  on  its 
summit  commenced  building  a  fort.  Here  tlu;y 
built  a  block-house,  astorediouse,  and  surrounded 
them  witli  earthworks  ami  palisa<les.  Pilette 
])romised  the  Indians  to  su])ply  them  with  goods, 
war  imphimcnts,  iVc.,  in  exchange  for  furs,  and 
])rotect  them  from  the  Irocpiois.  Acting  uixui 
this  promise,  a  large  number  of  Indians  came 
liere  and  built  lodges  within  the  stockades,  as  wc^ll 
as  ai'ou!id  it,  and  in  a  short  time  it  became  a  large 
town.  The  place  took  the  name  of  Le  Fort  des 
Miamis,  and  was  occuj>ied  by  the  Indians  long 
after  the  French  left  the  country.  The  reniains 
of  this  fort  were  jtlaiu  to  be  seen  in  the  early 
settlement  of  the  country,  an<l  were  mistaken  for 
tlie  relics  of  F'ort  St.  Louis. 

Next  year  after  the  fort  was  built,  Ca|)tain  Pi- 
lette collected  from  the  Lidians  two  canoe  loads 


H  -I 


XM 


LE  FORT  DKS  MIAMI8. 


Ill 


of  j>elts  jiiii]  furs,  wliirli  lieconteiiiplHted  blii|»])inij 

to  (^aiiadii,  and    puyiiig  lor  tliiiii  in  goocls  on    liis 

rutMrn.     The  ('aj)tain,  witli  tlirte  i'oni|iani(»iis,  was 

about  to  .stai't  «»n  this  j(jurnoy,  wiicii  hoth  Ficnch 

and    Indians   woi-u  colh'cti'd    on    tlie    ri\«M'    hank 

to  hid    tlicni   adii'U.      P>nt    us   their  car.DCs   were 

ahiiut   to  leave    the   shore,  Toiiti,  with    a   lih-    of 

armed   soMiers,  nia<le  his  a|»|)eai'an(;e  and   foihid 

them    g(»ini;'  until    the   dutv    authori/.(:d    hy     La 

Salle's     charter    was     paid.       Piletle     jirot.-sted 

aijaiust  heiui:'  i-ohhed  In  this  way,  as  he  termed  it, 

hilt  knowin^Li'   that   Tonti  with   his  armed  soKhers 

would  enloi'ee    his  demand,  ctin.'^ented    to  ]>ay  the 

trihute.      Aeeordiniilv    the    retpiired   nnnihcr    <»l 

hullalo,  hea\er  and    otter   skins   was  counted  ont, 

alter  wliieh  the  canoes  departi-d  oti  their  \\a\' 

I'iU'tte  mari"ied  a  xjuaw,  raised   a   lar^t'  laniils' 

of  halt-hreed    children,  to  w  liom    he  left   a   l;iri:e 

fortune,    which    lu'    ha<l   nunle  in    the    liir   trade. 

When  he  died  they  liuried  him  on    IhilValo  Poek, 

and  raised  a   mound   o\-er   his  i'i;niains.      A  short 

distance  from  tlu'   site  of  the  old   fort  and    town, 

urea    numhi-r  of  .>-niall    artiticial    !n<iund>,  raided 

over   the    remains  of  di>tii:'ui>Iied    jieisons.      I-'or 

yeai's   the.-e   iimunds    liaxe    hi-en  jtlowed    (>\cr  l»y 

A.  15i't_ii«'r,  the   o\\  nei' of  the   land,  hut>lill    their 

outlines  are  plain  to   he  .'-een.     The  lar^est  one  of 

the  ;^roup,  and    slauiliu-j;'  some  di.->tance   IVoiu  the 
u 


1 


112       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS   <)P    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

utliers,  is,  in  all  prohahility,  the  one  niiscNl   over 
the  tomb  of  C<ii)taiM  Pilctte. 

After   Pili'tti's  (leatli,   liis   I'aiiiilv   removed    tn 


eona 


Lake, 


ami    one   of"  his   t-i'Minlson! 


I. 


oUI.- 


Pilette  was  a  claimant  for  the  laiul  on  whirh 
Peoria  is  built.  Many  of  the  «leseen(hints  <»f  this 
old  fur  tradei"  are  now  livinir  on  the  Ameriean 
Bottom,  all  of  whom  sliow  stroii;^;  niai'ks  of  In- 
<liau  origin.  One  ot  tliesi;  dt'seend;inl>,  llyj»(»lite 
Pih'tte,  a  ^-reat  ^•ran<lson  of  the  Oaptain,  has  in 
liis  possession  ii  luunber  of  artiele>  whii-h  (tnce 
lieli)ni;'ed  to  lii.^  distinguished  i;- rand.'. ire.  From 
\\\\>  man  I  obtained  most  of  tin-  tr.iditiMiiaiy 
aeconnt  of  Le  Fort  des  Miamis.  a.-  well  as  many 
otlier  hiets  relatiui::  to  the  French  and  lndian.>  ol 
that  day. 


lit 


I 


ii 


1 11 


STKANOE   INDIAN  CUSTOMS. 

The  Illinois  Indians  like  many  of  the  wc.->tei'ii 
tiibes,  were  divided  into  clans,  which  were  ilc.-i^- 
natetl  by  names  of  animals,  such  as  wdl,  hear, 
imlfalo,  iher,  tVre.  In  the  marriai^e  relation  ihrsc 
(dans  were  (tbsi'i'ved  and  theii"  conditions  strictly 
coinpru'd  with.  A  \\aiiiorwa>  not  ailowcil  to 
take  a  wife  ol  Ids  own  clan,  hut  coidd  make  hi.- 
sidection  fi'om  a  ililTcrent  one.  'I'hns  wolf  could 
Hot  marry  wolf,  hut  e»udd  marry  hi-ar,  hulfalo  or 
deer. 


_Lii 


8TKAN0E  INDIAN  CUSTOMS. 


ua 


■iir, 

ll'Si' 
clI.V 

1<» 

Mil. I 
)   of 


Tlic  cliicftainsliij)  wa.-  licriMlitary,  1»nt  M«»t 
always  in  a  direct  line.  Thus,  a  son  ol"  a  chict' 
iiiav  ii(»r  iulierit  liis  title  aii'l  aiitlmritv  ;  allli<)ii;_di 
a  I't'imtctl  lu'ir  lu'  may  not  lie  a  natural  uiu-,  Imt 
llu'  sun  of  the  eliief's  flauiihter  is  always  preferre*), 
as  most  likely  !(»  !)♦'  of   I'oyal  Mood. 

The  Indians  helieved  that  slcknt>ss  was  eansed 
hy  a  dciMou  or  e\  il  >|iirit  taking'  possession  t»l  the 
jtatitMit,  and  the  [liiysieian,  who  heinii'  a  s<»rct*i-»'i\ 
Would  (V\j»el  it  hy  charms  oi-  iucaMtati<uis.  This 
he  would  do  hv  scnin's.  h(>atin,uf  his  druiu.  yelliiii; 
at  the  toj»  (»r  his  \-oice,  and  >ouirtiuH'>  his.viiitj^ 
like  a  s('i'|)('nt.  Tt'  the  case  was  a  had  oiu',  and 
the  demon  eonid  not  he  cxpollcd  h\-  iniM  nuMiis, 
more  j)ovvertnl  oiu's  wcr«'  roortcd  t«».  In  ."tnh- 
horn  cases  the  |ihysiciaii  would  heat,  chokf  and 
pinch  his  patients,  soinctimrs  hitim:-  tluMu  until 
the  hlood  would  llow  ;  whoop  and  yell  (ATI"  him, 
and  rattle  tortoise  shells  in  his  cai's.  I>ut  it'  all 
this  tailed  to  dri\eout  the  e\il  spirit,  a  council  »•!" 
the  patient's  friends  is  called,  a  fire  huilt.  and  the 
sick  person  hurtud  upon  it,  so  the  deiuou  might 
not  escape  and  get  into  some  oiu'  else. 

Some  of  the  dead  \\«'re  huried  in  the  i^ronnd, 
wliilt!  others  were  wrapju'ii  in  hutlalo  roh.-s  and 
place(l  on  scaffolds,  out  of"  the  reaeh  of  woKcs. 
Here  the  hodv  remaine<l  until  the  lloh  decayed, 
then  the  ijones  were  taken  down  and  laid  away  in 


I^T 


w 


ill  If 


114       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

a  i?mve.  Sometimes  the  remains  of  |)ers(>(is  killeil 
in  a  battle  or  l»y  aecitleiit,  were  boili'd,  the  tk'sh 
taken  ofl"  and  the  hones  laid  away  in  one  poi'iiim- 
of  rhe  lodge  until  the  time  came  for  a  [)iih'i(' 
hnrial.  It  was  the  eustom  to  hurv  the  chief'-,  in 
8onic  favorite  spot,  and  raise  a  mound  ovjr  them 
to  perpetuate  their  memory,  and  on  the  filth  day 
of  the  tenth  moon  of  each  year,  tlui  warriors  with 
their  faces  hlacked,  would   Jiieet  at  the  urave  and 


moan  over 


tl 


le  (i( 


parted. 


On  the  j)rairie  near  tlu^  old  town  of  Utica,  some 
of  these  mounds  are  still  to  he  seen,  and  they 
have  heen  noticed  neai'  the  site  -A'  otlici-  Indian 
villages  of  the  w(!st. 

Infants  after  death  were  wra]>pe<l  in  a  deer 
skin,  j)laeed  in  a  trougli  covered  with  hark  and 
liung  to  the  iinih  ol"a  tree,  where  tliey  were  left  to 
he  swung  hack  and  forth  hy  the  wind,  K(»r 
many  <lays  after  the  death  of  an  infant,  the  he- 
reaved  mother  woidd  go  at  sunset  and  seat  herselt' 
at  the  root  ()f  the  tree,  and  for  hours  a1  a  tinu-, 
sing  to  the  slee]>ing  hahe.  swcict   lullahy. 


'  I 


MANIT08  AND  liAKSKS. 


'IMie  Illim)is  Indians  believed  in  a  great  spirit 
called  Manito,  that  Ined  in  the  skies  and  govcMMied 
heaven  and  earth.  Besides  this  great  spirit,  tlicrc 
were  many  smaller  ones,  that  residecl  in  rocks  or 


mmmpi 


MANITOS  AND  BAIiSES. 


115 


vAVCK  (»!'  tlu!  I'artli,  mikI  would  apjx'Jir  in  tin-  lonn 
nf  a  fairy  or  a  l»i.n  wliito  hinl  ;  snmL'tinu's  as  a 
ral>l)it  (»r  laAVii.  (Treat  cllorts  weriMiiadr  Uv  hn\\\ 
old  and  youn^'  to  keep  on  good  terms  with  these 
good  spirits,  as  tliey  jn'oteeted  thuiii  from  the 
evil  ones. 

Youn;^^  wai'riors  al  the  ai;v  of  lifteeii  wonhl 
j>aint  their  faees,  cover  their  heads  with  an  elk  oi- 
(Mton  skin,  and  retiie  to  a  lonely  plaee  where  they 
wouKl  remain  two  ihiys  and  nights,  fasting  and 
praying  for  the  mainfestations  of  their  Maiuto, 
which  was  snre  to  appear  t(»  them  in  a  di'eam. 
iSometimes  thiij  spirit  would  a])pear  to  them  in 
the  form  of  a  hii'd,  a  I'ahhit,  antelope,  or  hulValo, 
and  l'olh>\v  them  through  life,arting  a^  a  guardian 
angi'l.  pr(jtecting  them  from  the  j)owers  of  the 
v\\\  one.  In  whatever  form  tlie  good  sj)irit  man- 
ifested itself,  must  lie  represented  hy  a  corres- 
ponding idol,  which  is  carried  with  them  at  all 
times.  When  starting  on  the  w'ar-{)ath,  eacli 
warrior  puts  his  protector,  called  7otei/i,  whicli  is 
generally  a  skin  of  a  snake,  a  tail  of  a  huilalo,  a 
horn  of  a  deer,  claw  of  a  coon,  or  the  head  of  an 
eagle,  into  a  medicine  hag.  This  medicine  hag  is 
carried  hy  a  priest  or  medicine  man,  who  leads 
the  way,  and  the  warrior.^  follow  after  iiim  in 
single  tile. 

The  Indians  believed  in  many  evil  spirits,  some 


-^■I'l 


'14 


■ 


:i  I 


i 


116      FUKNCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

oflar^e  and  otlicrs  of  small  nia^-iiitudo.  Tltese 
sjiirits  or  dumons,  called  barses,  vveru  all  tliu  while 
i-oainiiig  through  the  earth  in  search  of  i»rey,  at- 
tarkiiii!,"  and  destroying'  all  i)er,s(>n8  unproteeted 
l)j  a  good  spirit.  The  smaller  ones  wonid  fre- 
qnently  appear  in  the  t'oi'in  of  a  serpent,  a  tnrtlc, 
or  a  wolf,  hut  the  lari:;er  ones,  whose  size  exceeds 
that  of  a  horse  or  hntlalo,  with  a  long  tail  and 
(•I(»ven  feet,  and  whose  roar  during  a  thunder 
storm  could  he  heard  miles  away,  and  would  at- 
tack and  ilestroy  all  persons  unprotected. 

Ahout  two  miles  south  of  La  Vantum.  in  the 
thick  timher  of  the  Big  Yermillicui,  is  a  singular 
rocky  hasm  or  canon,  extending  from  the  creek 
about  eighty  rods  hack  into  the  hlulF,  an<l  now 
known  as  Deor  Park.  At  the  upper  end  of  this 
canon  is  a  waterfall,  caused  hy  a  small  stream 
falling  from  the  projecting  rock.  Under  this 
waterfall  was  once  a  large  cavern,  but  long  since 
closed  up  by  the  settling  of  the  rock,  and  at  pres- 
ent scarcely  perceptible.  According  to  Indian 
tradition,  in  this  rocky  cavern  once  lived  a  great 
d^inon  in  the  form  o(  a  bulVnlo,  with  immense 
horns  that  foldecl  uj*  on  his  back,  and  a  tail  <>f 
great  length  which  he  would  swing  to  an<l  fro 
over  his  body.  This  gi'eat  demon  or  bai-se  was 
fre({uently  seen  by  the  Indians  during  the  night, 
while  passing  to  and  from  his  den,  and  for  many 


CHRISTIANIZING  THE  INDIANS. 


ir 


y(3;irs  no  one  would  <j^()  into  VcnniHion  rinibor  to 
litiiit  for  tear  ot'bcin^  devoured  l)y  liini. 

Duririij  the  dead  hours  of  tlie  iii|:;ht,  wliilc  the 
wijid  l)le\v  and  thunder  roared,  this  demon  eouhl 
he  heai'd  liowling  round  the  town.  At  one  time 
he  produced  frost  in  midsummer,  wliieh  destroyed 
all  the  corn,  and  at  other  times  knocked  it  all 
down  with  the  force  of  his  breath. 

Duriui^"  the  dead  Inuirs  of  ni^'lit,  this  evil  spirit 
would  assume  the  form  of  a  man,  enter  lodges 
while  all  were  alseej),  and  breathe  poison  into  the 
nostrils  of  the  sleeju  rs,  causinn:  many  to  hicken 
and  die.  Sometimes  he  would  steal  unborn  In- 
fants from  their  mother's  womb,  aiul  by  him 
youni;'  maidens  were  robbed  of  their  virtue. 


'J 

'I- 
f 

If 

t  I 

•  1,4 


CHRISTIANIZING  THE  INDIANS. 

The  Jesuits  of  North  America,  whose  head- 
•  jiiarters  was  in  Quebec,  made  *>-reat  efforts  to 
(^in-istianize  the  Illinois  Indians,  and  for  that  pur- 
jtoH' many  missionaries  were  sent  west,  who  car- 
ried with  them  gold  aiul  silver  emblems  of  their 
relii^Mon.  These  missionaries  abaiidoned  all  the 
com(()rts  of  civilization,  and  s[)ent  their  days  in 
wigwams  with  the  wild  sons  of  the  forest,  all  for 
the  glory  and  honor  of  the  Redecnu'r.  But  all 
their  lalxM's  availed  nothing,  as  tbe  Iiulians  con- 
tornied  to  the  modes  of  Christian   worship  only 


1  18        FKKNOH   AND  INDFANS  OF  II,MN(>I8  RIVER. 


^M 


loi-  tlic  '/\\)i^  tiloy  exi»oct(Ml  to  roceivo.  Many 
iiiiitlr  all  optMi  j»r<>f('Hsi<m  of  Cliristiatiity,  ol»scrvt'(l 
its  lui'iii,  Imt  ill  lk(*t  still  ri'taiiK'il  tlicir  (»\vii  jtriii- 
ciples  of  ri'li<::i<»ii.  The  Jesuits  were  zealous  in 
their  work  of  jM'iiselvtiti^',  iiujnvssiiii;  on  the 
Tniiidsoj  the  Indiaiip,  that  without  (/hristiaii  hap- 
tisiii  they  wcmhl  he  east  into  a  lake  wliich  hnrneth 
with  tire  and  hrimstone.  Hut  the  Iinlians  had 
l»een  taught  Iroin  their  infancv,  that  when  owr- 
taken  hy  death  they  would  he  eoruhieted  by  a 
<^o()d  spirit  to  the  ha})]>y  Inintiuij  <:;rounds,  to  join 
their  friends  who  had  iz:one  before  thein,and  their 
(!tirly  coiivictions  the  })riest  could  not  remove. 

All  tho.sc  who  w(M'e  baptized  the  priest  pro- 
Tiouneed  shnxmI  from  perdition,  and  their  names 
were  enrolled  in  the  great  book  of  tlie  ehureh. 
'V\\vy  eounted  the  eonvcrsions  by  the  number  of 
baptisms,  when  in  tiiet  it  had  but  little  to  do  witii 
it,  as  many  were  willini^  to  be  baptized  every  day 
in  the  week  for  a  [>int  of  whisky  or  a  pouinl  of 
tobacco. 

Tht  .Ticdals,  crosses  and  crucifixes  wliich  the 
Jesuits  i^ave  the  warriors,  pleased  tlieir  fiiticy,  as 
they  were  fond  of  adorning  their  person  with 
glittering  trinkets.  And  with  these  represcMita- 
tions  of  man's  salvation  Bus]>ended  from  their 
necks,  tliev  would  remain  heathens  still.  In.  ad- 
dition  to  decorating  their  persons  with  tokens  of 


naratr.  fKse^i'evt^-tKf»e*-m 


OnUISTIANIZINO  TFIE   INDIANS. 


119 


Oliristiaiiity,  many  of  the  wai'riors  wore  m^cklacoH 
iiiailr  oldrictl  liiiircrs  tak(!ii  from  HiKnii'mv,  whom 
tlii'v  li:i«l  slain  in  haftlo.  The  former  ri'i>ri'sc'iit- 
c(l  their  relii^noii,  and  the  latter  tin  ir  patrii.tism. 
Maifjuette  aj>]»ears  to  have  l)een  an  exception 
t«»;ill  other  Jesuits  wlio  labored  for  the  eonversioii 
of  die  IndiaJis.  While  others  faile*!,  his  ell'orts 
were  crowned  with  sueeess,  iinil  he  made  many 
eonv(;''ts  wherevtM-  he  went.  Lon^ after  liisch-ath 
his  memory  was  hehl  saere(l,aiid  tiie  places  whieh 
he  visited  liullowed  hy  postijrity. 


.!        fl 

■'    -a 


ii 


...  -.» 


n 


CIIAPTKR  XI. 


I  I 


THK  LAST  OF  TONTI. 

Kor  a  periixl  »»t'  tith-i'ii  years  alter  the  deatli  of' 
La  Salle,  tlie  tiade  witli  the  Illinois  In(liaii.>  was 
carried  on  l)y  Tonti  atjd  La  Frost,  under  spciial 
charter  tVoni  the  kin^'  of  France.  La  Fn»st  spent 
most  of  liis  time  in  Canada,  while  Tonti  remaineil 
at  Fort  St.  Louis,  shippinLf  each  year  a  lari;e 
(juantity  *A'  furs,  and  receiving  ^oods  in  exchaiiLic. 
In  the  year  1702,  tlie  Gi^veriior  of  Canada,  claim- 
ing that  tliese  traders  had  forfeited  their  charter 
by  collecting  furs  at  various  points  (»n  Lake  Mich- 
igan, and  hv  military  force  he  took  i)ossessioii  of 
F(trt  St.  Louis,  confiscating  to  the  government  all 
their  stock  in  trade.  By  this  act  of  injustice 
Tonti  was  not  only  disgraced  hy  the  arhiti-ary 
power  of  tlie  governor,  but  was  ruined  in  fortune. 
Calling  his  friends  together,  he  took  leave  of  them, 
saying  that  he  was  about  to  depart  from  the 
country  never  to  return.  Both  French  and  In- 
dians collected  around   Tonti,  beseeching  him  to 


TFIK  LAST  OF  TONTI. 


121 


nMiiaiii  witli  tlicin,  l»nt  lie  had  resolvnl  f<>  tin 
otluTwisc,  and  witli  tears  in  llicir  eyt's  lie  hade 
tlicin  adieu.  Accompanied  \)\  two  e()in|»ani(»ns, 
lie  huaideil  a  canoe  ami  started  down  the  river  in 
search  of  new  a<lventures. 

( )ii  reachinir  t!ie  lower  Mississi|>])i,  Totiti  joine<l 
I)'Iher\iile,  and  assisteil  him  in  estaldishini;  a 
cohdiv  in  that  conntry.  For  sixteen  voars  lie  re- 
mained  sonth,  part  of  the  time  entrusted  with 
important  missions,  hut  when  the  colojiy  was 
hrokeii  np  hv  sickness  and  Spanish  invasion,  he 
hoeame  an  (»r.tcast  and  a  wundeivr.  Broken 
down  in  heallli,  and  feidini,' that  his  end  was  iii^jli, 
he  (.'ni[>h»yetl  two  Indians  to  take  liiiii  to  Fort  St. 
f^onis,  so  he  coiihl  once  more  h»ok  iij)on  the  sci'iie 
ol"  his  vi^or  and  manh<»(»d,  ami  leave  his  hones 
amonir  the  peoj)le  \)\  whom  he  had  long  been 
honoreil  and  olxned. 

It  was  a  warm  afternoon  in  the  early  part  of 
Anj.aist,  171H,  when  the  occupants  of  Fort  St. 
Louis  were  lonnginjj;  ai'ound  the  palisa<les,  under 
the  shadt'  of  I'vt'rijcreens,  sonic  sleepin;^'  an<l  others 
en:;ai!e<l    in  i-iinu's  of  dict^  and    clujckers,    wlieii 


th 


di 


ley  discovered  a  canoe  comiiiii'  "p  the  river 
rowed  hy  two  Indian>.  In  the  hottoni  of  the 
canoe  lay  a  man  <»ii  a  hiilhdo  rohe.  hut  as  they 
eame  nigh  the  fort  he  r.ii-ed  himself  int<»  a  sitting,' 
position,    and   gazed   wildly    urouud    him.     The 


T^ 


"*t< 


122        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS    lilVKK. 


14 

■'i 


ciuioo  liuidcd  at  tlie  l»asc  of  tlic  rock,  and  tlic 
Indians  draijiijod  it  on  shore  to  ])iH,'V('nt  its  hcinn' 
carried  away  by  the  current.  After  seeurinii-  their 
eanoe  tliey  eoniinenced  a8cen<lin_ii;  Starved  Rock, 
wlien  tlieir  stranii;e  aj>pearaiice  causctl  many  eon- 
iectures  annniix  the  inmates  of  the  fort.  Between 
the  two  Indians  was  a  feeble  old  man,  whom  the 
coiuluctors  held  by  each  arm,  and  wi;re  slowly 
assistin<i;  liim  u})  the  roeky  pathway.  On  reach- 
ing tlie  fort  at  the  summit  of  the  rock,  the  old 
man  was  placed  on  a  bunk,  where  he  lay  Ibr  some 
time  unable  to  speak,  bein,u;  exhausted  by  the 
l'atiij:ue  of  tlie  iouniev.  After  takini2-  some  stim- 
ulants  his  encrii;ies  revived,  and  he  iu'piired  of 
those  around  him  who  eonunandetl  the  fort.  On 
being  told  it  was  Captain  La  ^^ort,  he  gave  a 
heavy  sigh,  saying  that  La  Mott  was  a  usui'per, 
and  he  the  rightful  commander.  The  pe'ople 
thought  him  crazy  or  his  mind  wandering,  and 
they  bathed  his  head  with  cold  water.  Wlien 
suiHciently  recovered  fr(-)m  exhaustion,  he  told 
them  that  he  was  Tonti,  and  come  here  to  die 
The  old  man's  statements,  although  at  fii-st  dis- 
credited  by  most  of  those  present,  created  much 
excitement  among  the  soldiers,  but  when  con- 
vinced of  its  truthfulness,  one  after  another  came 
forward  and  embraced  him. 

Sixteen  years  had  made  a  great  change  in  the 


mm 

"St;,. 


Bt*^..., 


KoKT  ST.   LoUI.s    BRUNEI)   AND    tM»L()NY    HIiOKKN    IV. 

8n  l.tiio-  as  till' lui- tiMilc  wa^i  ruiidiKrted  !»y  T(>!ili 


m 


FORT    BURNED — COLONY    BRoKEN  UP. 


123 


appoaraiice  of  Toiiti,  and  lie  was  .soarcely  recoo-- 
iiized  l»y  his  most  intiniato  iViends.  His  tall 
manly  t'onii  was  heiit  by  disease,  his  piercing* 
hlack  eves  were  iliiniiied  with  ai^e,  and  his  raven 
black  hair  was  now  white  as  snow. 

News  of  Tonti's  arrival  at  Fc>rt  St.  Lonis  spread 
thr(»ni;-hout  the  eonntry,  and  the  Freneh,  hall- 
breeds  and  India!is  at  the  dillerent  villages  eaine 
to  see  hini.  Bnt,  alas,  those  who  had  known  him 
while  in  the  viiior  ot'  manhood,  could  scarcelv 
he  convinced  that  the  feeble  «>ld  man  that  tbcy 
now  beheld  was  once  tbe  |irond,  bravf  and  fear- 
less Tonti  of  former  years. 

A  few  days  after  T(»nti  arrived  at  tbe  tort  he 
tot»k  the  sacrament  at  tbe  hamls  of  a  ]>riest,  and 
while  lookmij.'  n[)()n  a  u( M  crni-itix  which  was 
held  before  hi.-  fiee,  he  breathed  his  last.  A  n'rave 
was  dui;'  on  the  river  luuik.  close  to  the  west  end 
of  Starved  Rock,  in  wbirh  his  remains  found  a 
long  resting  }»lace. 

P'or  mauv  vears  after  Tonti's  death,  both  French 
and  Indians  while  passing  up  ami  down  the  river 
W(»nld  stop  to  visit  his  grave,  and  sometimes  place 
upon  it  flowers  or  mementoes  in  nuuiiory  of  him 
who  sleeps  beneatli. 


■i-  u 


r  ; 


M    I,   ^1 

1 11^ 


?!       9 


124       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

{111(1  Lu  F'rost,  tlio  Indians  wcM'e  well  [)leas('(l  with 


lli(3i 


ir  iiianiH'i'  oi  uoiiig  i)usiiiess.  im 


l)usi 


It  wl 


leii  It  came 


under  the  su[)ervit;iun  of  the  Governor  of  Cana<ha, 


a  new    oi'dei"    o 


>f    tl 


11 1 1  us  V 


\'as    inti'<)(hice<l,    which 


eaubed  nuich  di.--satisfacti()n.  I'lie  i;'(»vern(»r  ap- 
pointed uiiscrupulou>  agents  to  conduct  tlie  trade, 
who  swindled  the  Indian^  i)y  selling  them  worth- 
l(\ss  articles,  siieli  as  counterfeit  jewelrv,  kni\-es, 
tomahawks.    *S:c.,    made    (»f    pot-metal. 


T 


lese 


ill 


traders  paid  tlie  iiovermnent  a  certain  duty  <»na 
pelts  ship]»ed  to  (;aiiada,  and  no  one  was  all<»\\'ed 
to  trade  with  the  Indians  unless  authorixe(l  t(»  do 
so  h_v  the  go\(M'iior.  The  <luty  consisted  of  a 
certain  ninuher  of  skins  out  of  each  ear^'o,  which 
tlie  tra<lers  compelled  the  Indians  to  furnish, 
otherwise  their  \';dui^  was  deducted  on  m;d<iug 
payment.  The  Indians  heing  impos(;d  n|i(»n  hy 
these  swindlers,  an  unfriendly  leciing  sjuunu  up 
iij)  hetween  them. 


Tl 


uu'e  W( 


re  olhci"  causes  of  ill  feelitiy:  hetween 


tli(>   Freiicli    and    Indians,  anions  which    was  tlu 


3lati 


A  I 


il 


marriaii'e  relation.  A  rrencnnian  iiavinu' marne( 
a  young  scpiaw  would  put  her  away  as  s(»oii  as  he 
found  another  (me  more  attractive,  thus  changing 
his  wife  at  will  according  to  his  fancy.  Although 
the  priests  wmikl  not  tolerate  hiuamy  among  their 
eouuti'ymeu,  3'et  they  were  willing  to  accept  a 
niarria;r<*  Tee  once  a  montli,  twice  a    week,  or  as 


* 


FORT  BURNKD— COLONY  HIiOKEN  UP. 


125 


ufteii  as  tlie  applicant  desired  a  m-w  wife.  Tlie 
young  S(jua\V6  were  tbnd  of  beads,  rings  and  other 
trinkets,  with  whicli  tliey  would  adorn  their  per- 
sons, and  tlie  one  li'ivinu'  thmi  thi'  ni<ist  ju'eseiits 
the}-  were  willinu' to  marry.  It  wa>  the  higlit  ot' 
ihcir  ambition  to  marry  a  white  man,  nutwith- 
^tandimi  thev  were  b'able  to  be  out  awav  at  anv 
time,  if  tlieir  h)i-<l  fouml  (Mic  more  attractive  than 
themselves. 

Under  tiie  Indian  code  of  nmrals,  a  scpiaw,  if 
found  unchaste,  was  punished  l>y  cutting  (»lf  one 
t'ar  or  l>rauded  on  the  forehead,  but  there  was  no 
law  to  prevent  them  mari-ying  eveiy  day  in  tin- 
week,  or  as  often  as  an  (tpporl unity  occurred. 

Captain  La  Mott  was  now  in  command  of  tin' 
fori,  aixl  being  a  man  fond  (»f  pleasure,  and  de- 
void (<f  conscienti(;us  scruples,  converted  it  into 
a  regular  harem,  in  ojxmi  violation  of  botii  the 
French  and  Indian  code  of  morahs.  Young  In- 
tb.m  maidens  were  in  the  halat  of  si)ending  their 
nigiits  at  the  fort,  under  tlie  pri'te\t  of  being  mar- 
ried to  soKhers,  returning  home  in  tlie  morning 
w  itii  their  heads^adorned  with  woi'thless  trinkets, 
and  their  minds  jioisoiied  by  \ile  as>ociations. 
'^riie  >([uaws  became  >o  taeinated  with  tlie  l^Vench 
that  many  refusi>d  to  marrv  anioiigtheir  own  j»ei» 
pie,  and  had  come  to  ihe  coiiciiisioii  tliat  their 
cliiiib'cn  were  not    worth  raising,  unless  they  had 


11 


rrrr^ 


II 


ril 


hi! 


i:   i: 


III 


!1. 


i  ) 


'  i ;  i 


i 


126      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


FreiR'li  blood  in  tliciir  voins.  Tliinics  had  eoiiio 
to  such  a  state  in  tlieir  social  rolatiotiK,  that  tho 
head  chief,  Jero,  called  a  council  of  chief's  and 
warriors,  and  at  .which  it  was  agreed  to  e\[)el  the 
French  from  anionii'  them. 

On  a  warm  mornin;^  in  the  latter  j>art  of  the 
summer  of  1718,  while  most  of  ihe  occuj)ants  of 
Fort  St.  Louis,  after  a  nin'ht  oi'  revelry  and  de- 
haucherv,  were  still  a>leep  in  thcii'  I>uid-:,s  when 
su<ldenly  ariUKsed  hy  tlu^  »)resence  of  the 
avengers.  Captain  La  Mott,  awakenini;'  Irom 
his  moiMiinii;  naj),  was  astonished  on  hein^  con- 
In  )iUcd  l)v  ahout  three  hmidred  warriors,  armed 
and  painted  as  foi'  war.  The  Caj»tain  iiKpiiriMJ 
the  oltjcct  of  their  visit,  wdien  Jero,  the  head  chief, 
inf  »rme(l  him  that  they  were  here  to  desti'oy  the 
ibrt.  The  chief  ordered  the  warriors  to  tii-e  the 
hnildings,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  hlockdiousc, 
storediouse  and  tlwellings  were  in  llaine.>,  all  of 
which  were  hurned  to  the  ground.  'I'hus  Fort 
St.  Louis  was  desti'oyed,  after  standing  thii'ty-si.x 
years,  and  being  the  head-center  of  the  French 
settlement  in  Illinois. 

On  the  destruction  of  the  f«»rt  the  colony  was 
Itroken  u[>;  some  of  the  traders  returned  to  Can- 
ada, otliers  to  the  French   settlement  at  Cahokia, 


s'e,  whtM't^  a 


but  the  greater  portion    to  Feoria   Lak 

colony   had  lu^en  established    seven  years  bi-fore. 


RELICS  OF  FORT  ST.  LOUIS. 


In  tlic  summer  of  1805,  a  l>firtv  nt  Kaska.skia, 
leaniiiiii:  from  tradition  tluita  lariic  amount  of  jiold 
had  been  l)uried  within  the  stockades  of  Fort  St. 
Louis,  went  in  search  of  it.  At  that  time  the 
location  of  Fort  St.  Louis  was  unknown.  His- 
tory and  tradition  alike  failed  to  point  it  out; 
bat  th(_/  knew  it  was  on  a  rock  washed  by  the 
ra})id  current  of  the  Illinois,  and  a  short  distance 
above  the  great  bend  in  the  river.  On  Buifalo 
Rock  they  found  as  they  sup[)osed  relics  of  the 
fort,  and  here  they  s[>eiit  a  number  of  days  in 
seurchin;^  for  the  hidden  treasure.     But   tindin;' 


KKLICS  OF  FOKT  ST.  LOUIS. 


12; 


Three  years  after  the  burning  of  Fort  St.  Louis, 
Charlevoix  visited  Illinois,  and  found  the  })alis- 
ades  still  standimj;.  No  Frenchmen  lived  here 
at  that  time,  but  in  the  great  town  near  by  were 
seen  scores  of  half-breed  children. 

Some  years  ago  Gen.  Cass  brought  from  France 
a  manuscript,  dated  172B,  and  relates  to  western 
Indians.  It  speaks  of  a  war  existing  between 
the  Illinoiaiis  and  Sacs,  and  Foxes,  of  Green  Bay. 
It  also  refers  to  M.  De  Siette,  eonimander  in 
Illinois,  and  of  the  ])ro])riety  <jf  calling  a  council 
at  Chicago,  or  at  the  Kock,  undoubtedly  meaning 
Starved  Rock. 


r 


I  if « 

m 


t   :     , 

!  :   11 

1    t» 


128      FRKNCH  AND  INDIANS   (>F    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


I  ^ 


\h 


nothing,  tliey  returned  home  and  {>nl)lislie<l  an 
account  ot"  their  expedition  in  the  iicvvsjiapers  of 
that  day.  In  this  account  tlicv  describe  the  re- 
mains of  the  fort  on  a  lar^-e  rock,  located  on  the 
nortii  side  of  the  river,  and  tVoni  that  time  toi'- 
ward  it  was  coiiceth'd  th.il  Fort  St.  Ijouis  was 
hnilt  on  BuiValo  Rock. 

It  hat}  already  heendiovvii  tliat  Bullalo  Rock  did 
not  answei'tlie  description  of  liic  place  spoken  of  in 
history,  hut  the  natural  advantages  between  these 
two  rocks  tbi'  a  loi't'di<'al  ion,  could  not  escape  the 
oh>erv;iliou  of  a  !ii;;ii  wiih  \/d  Salle's  shrewdness, 
liulfalo  Ro"k  contaiii.-'  oii  iis  Mnnmit  scv<.'i'al 
hundred  mCIc--  oi'  hind,  is  only  aitout  six;y  (c'ct 
high,  and  accessiole  at  \  ai'ioii-^  j)oitits,  couseipient- 
ly  it  woukl  I'eijiilre  a  large  lorce  t'>  hohl  a  toi't 
thus  located.  Whei'eas,  Siarvdl  h'lH'k  is  one 
hundred  and  thirty-six  feet  high,  c<)ntains  on  its 
suinmil  lef,>  than  one  acre,  can  only  i)e  reached  at 
one  point,  which  make-- it  a  natural  fortress,  where 
but  little  labor  would  be  rt'(pui'e(l  to  make  it 
impregnable,  so  that  a  few  .--oldiers  conkl  lioid  it 
against  all  the  savaues  of  the  west. 

Immediately  south  ot  Starved  l{ock,  and  about 
oru'  hundred  and  tifty  yai'ds  distant,  is  a  highclitf 
of  rocks,  isolated  h'om  the  neil'•ld)orin^'  clilfs.  and 
known  as  Devil's  Nose.  Eastwai'd,  across  a  chasm 
two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  width,  and  covered 


I    ■ 


KKLICS  OF  FORT  ST.   LOCIS. 


12<J 


with  a  thick  <;Tuwth  of  tiinbLT,  is  anotliLT  roi'ky 
clilTof  c(]iuil  higlit.  This  eliil  rises  ahiiost  }»er- 
])eiulieiilarly  from  the    water's  eili^e,   roniiecting 


wi 


th   U 


le   iiuun 


hhilf,    aii'l    fiom  ail    oM    Indian 


legend  is  called  Maiden's  Loai».  These  two  clill's 
are  almost,  as  high  as  Starv(Ml  Rock,  and  if  occu- 
pied hy  the  assailants  would  he  within  gunshot 
of  the  fort.  Therefore,  it  became  necessary  to 
protect  the  sides  next  to  them  with  earthworks 
and  palisades.  The  earthworks  on  the  sides  next 
to  these  cliffs,  enchasing  ahnost  two-thirds  of  the 
circumference  of  the  nn-k,  are  still  to  he  Ncen, 
leaving  that  next  to  the  liver  without  any  jirotec- 
tion  whatever,  as  none  were  here  Jieeded.  These 
works  commence  at  the;  westerti  angh',  tbllowing 
the  margin  of  the  rock  (which  is  of  a  cii'cnlar 
torm)  to  tlie  extreme  east,  leavi?ig  an  open  gate- 
way on  the  south,  where  the  i)ath  ascends  the 
rock,  and  is  oik;  hundred  and  twenty-two  yards 
in  length.  On  the  south  side  of  the  rock  and  all 
along  the  earthworks,  which  are  now  covered 
with  small  trees  and  stunted  evergreens,  are  many 
pitdioles,  two  of  which  are  very  large.  It  is 
quite  prol)al)le  that  one  o!  these  wan  the  maga- 
zine of  the  g;irrison,  and  the  other  a  c^dlar  of 
the  storediouse.  The  smaller  })it-h(»les,  which 
are  seen  h.ere  and  there  among  the  hushes, 
according  to  tradition,  were  dug  forty-seven  years 


I 


,    I 


130       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVKR. 


after  Fort  St.  Luiiis  was  dostrovt'd,  and  under  the 
following  cinMniistaTices : 

When  the  Governor  of  (^aiiatla  t(M»k  posgension 
of  Fort  St.  Louis,  all  the  g-oodH  and  furshelon^ing 
to  the  traders  were  confiscated  to  the  government 
and  report  says  divided  hetween  the  governor  and 
liib  frieiuls.  'Ponti,  having  at  the  time,  in  his 
possession  a  large  amount  of  gold,  dug  a  hole 
within  the  stockades  and  huried  it  to  prevent  its 
falling  into  the  hands  ot  I  he  g(»vei'nor.  Sixteen 
years  afterwards,  as  Tonti  was  ahout  1  I'eathing 
his  last,  he  told  a  prii'sl  who  was  holding  a  gold 
ciueitix  hefore  his  fncc  ahoul  the  gold  hcing 
huried  within  the  f<M't.  The  priest  ke])t  the  matte]' 
a  secret,  waiting  tor  an  opportunity  t,o  resurrect 
the  gold,  hut  soon  after  he  was  drowned  in  the 
river  hy  the  upsetting  of  a  eanoe.  The  tort  was 
also  hurned  and  the  Fi'ench  driven  away,  as  pre- 
viously stated. 

In  the  summei'  oi'  ITHo,  forty-seven  years  aftei' 
Fort  St.  Louis  was  ahandoned,  a  party  of  French 
at  Peoria,  among  whom  were  (^aptain  De  Fond 
and  Fathei"  Buchc,  helieving  tlui  story  ahout  gold 
heing  huried  in  the  fort,  came  up  the  river  in 
search  of  it.  They  eucam})e<i  at  the  base  of 
Starved  Rock,  and  sj)ent  rrumy  days  in  digging 
on  its  sunuiut.  No  gold  was  found,  hut  in  a  vault 
near  where  the  store-house  had  stood,  they  found 


■8      f 


RELICS  OF  FORT  ST    LOUIS. 


KU 


a  I<ir<;e  number  ofjirtidcs  .] 


ti'adc, 


csiirru'd  for  the  Itid 


i:iM 


C'oiisistiiii;    oi'  t(.ni;ilia\vl 


KS. 


k 


nive8. 


head; 


^iMs  and  ether  articles.     The  diWin-  tor  .rold 


on 


Starved    Rock    accounts   jur  the    many   pit-holes 
now  to  he  seen. 

^  This  account   of  scareliitio'  for  ir,,],!  i,s  ujven  in 
Father  Buche's    manuscript,  now 'in  jx.ssession  ut 
Jlypolite  Plh'ile,  and  fr.»m  which  manv  extracts 
are  taken.     Said  he,  -We  liad  spent  five  davs  in 
•h'ggiii^r  pit-holes  on  the  summit    of  Le  Ro'cher, 
and    found    a  large    (juantity  of    articles  which' 
\V(M-e    intended    for    the    Indian    track',    but    the 
precious    metal— tlie    object    of  our   ..earch—we 
found  none.     On  the  last  day  of  our  stay  we  du- 
a  hole  close  to  the  old   earthwork,  and  continued 
working  until  it  was  .piite   (h'lrk,  when   the  devil 
appeared  to  u.-  in    the  jbrm  of  a  huge  hear.     On 
seeing   this  monster   we   dropped  our   tools   and 
hurried  (h.wn  from  the  n.ck,  put  our  camp  kit  in 
the  canoe  and  started  down  the  river." 

This  story  of  gold  hcing  buried  within  the 
stockades  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  is  also  among  the 
Indian    traditions,  and  somo  years  ago  a  |>artv  of 


Pottawatoi 


nies  from  Western  Kui 


isas  came  here 


to  searcli  for  it.  People  told  them  that  Fort  St. 
Louis  was  built  on  Buffalo  flock,  and  on  it  they 
dugaiunnber  of  pit-holes,  but  finding  nothing 
they  returned  to  tlieir  homes. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FlilCNCn  SETTLEMENT  AT  PEOKIA. 

At  vvluit  tinu'  tlie  FrcMU-li  (•(HiimciH.'cd  a  settle- 
ment at  l\Hnia,lias  loni^;  been  a  eoiitn>vertetl  point 
on  wliicli  history  and  tradition  arc  alike  deieetive. 
Some  helieve  it  commenced  wlien  La  Salle  l)iiilt 
Fort  Creve  Ceour,  in  the  year  1(580,  and  from 
that  time  people  continued  to  reside  here.  Otliers 
fix  the  permanoit  settlement  of  the  place  alxuit 
the  year  17f)0;  hut  from  an  old  letter  in  the  pos- 
session ol  a  descendant  of  an  early  j)i()neer,  as 
well  as  traditionary  accounts,  it  is  (|uite  evident 
that  it  commenced  at  an  early  period.  I  have 
given  this  subject  much  attention  by  gatherini; 
up  scra})S  of  history  relating  to  it,  and  by  con- 
versing with  many  of  the  descentlants  of  the 
Peoria  Freiicli,  some  of  whom  trace  tluir  genea- 
logy back  to  the  days  of  La  Salle.  By  comparing 
these  dilferent  accounts  it  is  shown  conclusively 
that  the  settlement  at  Peoria  conmienced  in  the 


FKKNcn  8p:ttlemknt  at  pkokia. 


1  •>•> 


I' 


year  1711,  aivl  iimlcr  tlic  InllowinL'  <Mr{Miinstaiic('>  : 
III  tlic  Slimmer  of"  171 1 .  Faflirr  Mirrst.  a  .Irsiiit 
priot  from  (^aiiaila,  pivacluMj  to  llic  liidiaiis  at 
(^aliokia.  ami  l>y  llir  force  of  liis  cloiiiicncc  a  large 
iiumlter  of  llieiii  were  eoii\ cried  to  (Mii'istiaiiity. 
Among  tiiese  converts  was  a  eliicf  iiametl  Kolct, 
from  Peoria,  wlio  at  llio  time  was  at  (/aliokia, 
\isitiiig  tVieiids,  Tiie  cliiel'  |»rt'\aile«!  on  Father 
Marest  to  aceomj)aiiy  liim  home  to  lii:-  \  ilhige  at 
Peoria  Lake,  ami  p'oclaim  salvation  to  hispeojde. 
Late  ill  Novml.er  the  priest  ami  chief,  aceompa 
nieil  hy  two  warriors,  start'd  in  a  hark  eaiioe  tor 
Pei.'i'ia,  hilt  al'ter  goiii^  ten  leagues  therixcr  t'ro/A' 
up,  so  that  t'urther  progrc-s  h\-  water  was  out  of 
the  <pijestioii  :  thi^vfoiv  the  tra\'ehM's  hid  th;'ir 
canoe,  with  mo^t  ol  tht;ir  Itaggage,  in  the  thick 
rivci-  timher,  and  coiitiiiiii'd  tlieir  journey  on  loc.t. 
For  twcK'e  da\s  they  wadiid  thi'ougli  snow  and 
water,  cros>ing  hig  prairies  and  through  thi(d': 
timher,  full  of  hriais  and  thorns.  Sometimes 
ercKSsini:'  marshes  and  streams  wliere  the  ice  would 
give  wav,  lettiuij;  thein  into  water  no  to  their 
ne(d>:s.  At  night  they  slept  on  i\vy  grass  r^r  leaves, 
gathei'ed  from  iimhu'  tlie  >now.  without  slielter  or 
anything  hut  tlieir  blankets  to  [U'otect  tliem  i'roni 
the  cold  winter  blast.  The  pr<»\isions  ti>r  their 
journey,  as  well  as  their  iKMldiiig,  was  lelt  with 
tlieir  canoe,  couse<piently    they  were   ol)liged   to 


^ 


134      PRKNCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVKR. 


i  I 


Bubsist  on  wild  grai)t'8  iirul  ^jirriL!  killed  by  the 
way.  After  inutij  days  of  t;itigii(3  and  exjM»Kun«, 
tliuir  limbs  frost  l)itt{'n,  and  llieir  bodies  rednced 
in  llesli  fr(jni  starvation,  they  at  last  reaehed 
the  villaf?o,  and  from  the  natives  received  a  hearty 
welcome. 

Tliis  Indian  village  (afterwanlri  called  Opa  by 
the  French)  was  situated  on  the  west  bank'  of 
Peoria  Lake,  one  mile  and  a  half  above  its  outlet. 
On  La  Salle's  {irst  visit  to  this  place,  thirty-one 
years  before,  he  found  here  a  large  town,  arul  was 
cordially  received  by  the  head  chief,  Niconope. 
This  chief  had  long  since  been  gathered  to  his 
fathers,  and  his  place  was  occcupied  by  Kolet, 
above  referred  to. 

Father  Marest  found  (piarters  in  an  Indian 
lodge,  vjid  remained  in  the  village  until  spring 
without  meeting  with  one  of  his  countrymen, 
lie  preached  to  the  Indians  almost  daily,  many 
of  whom  embraced  Christianity,  and  their  names 
were  afterwards  enrolled  in  the  church  book. 

On  the  following  spring  the  French  at  Fort  St. 
Louis  established  a  trading  post  at  Peoria  Lake, 
and  a  number  of  families  came  thifhor  from 
Canada  and  built  cabins  in  the  Indian  village. 
For  fifty  years  the  French  and  half-breeds  con- 
tinued to  live  in  the  town  with  the  Indians,  and 
during  that  period  peace  and  harmony  prevailed 


J  ft 


■i   V 


mtm 


LA  VILLE  DE  MATLKr. 


135 


fimon|Lr  tlirm.  But  in  ('(Hirse  of  time  tin's  town 
WH8  ul»!iii(li>ti('(l  foT-  (n\v  that  tij^iuvtl  cr.tcn.siv  cly 
ill  its  (Imv,  and  known  in  liistorv  as 


LA  VILLE  DK  MAILLET. 


In  tlu»  sinnnirT  of  17»U,  Rolicrt  Mailli't,  a 
trfuUr  nf  Peoria,  luiilt  a  (Ivvcllinij  one  niilc  and  a 
lialf  ht'lov;  tli;i  town,  noar  the  oiitK't  of  tlic  lake, 
und  moved  his  t'iniily  tliithcr.  IltM't!  the  lainl 
risos  gra<lually  from  the  water's  e(l;ire  until  it 
reaehes  tlie  liigh  prairie  in  the  rear,  forming  a 
])eautiful  slo]»irig  phiteaii,  nnefinalh'd  l)y  suiy  spot 
on  the  Illinois  I'iver.  This  l«»ealify  for  a  town 
was  eonsidered  preferahle  to  the  old  one,  the 
j^roimd  heiiiii'  dryer,  the  water  hettur,  and  it  was 
considered  more  healthy,  consequently,  others 
came  and  l)uilt  houses  i)V  the  sid(3  of  Mail  let's. 
Tlie  inhahitants  gradually  deserted  the  old  town 
for  the  new  one,  and  within  a  tew  years  tiie  latter 
became  a  place  of  great  importance.  No  French 
lived  in  tlie  old  town  aft(>r  the  year  17t)-t,  Imt  for 
manv  years  it  remained  an  Indian  villat^o,  und 
the  houses  vacated  l)y  the  FreJich,  were  occupied 
by  the  natives  until  they  rotted  down. 

The  new  town  took  the  name  of  La  Ville  de 
Maillet  (that  is  Maillot's  village),  after  its  })ro[)rie- 
tor,  and  was  in  existence  fifty-one  years.     A  fort 


« 


111 


136      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS!  RIVER. 

WHK  built  on  liii^li  <^n-oini(l.  overlooking  tlie  lake 
on  one  side,  and  the  slojiing  prairie  on  tlie 
other.  This  fort  consisted  of  two  lar;^'e  block- 
houses, surrounded  bv  earthworks  and  }>;disades, 
witli  an  open  <^ateway  to  tlii'  south  next  to  the 
town,  and  was  only  iii<ende(|  as  a  \Ai\vv  of  retreat 
in  ease  of  trouble  witn  'Jk  Indians,  The  Ibrt  was 
never  occu])it'd  (vxcept  a  shoi-t  time  hy  Robert 
Maillet,  who  used  one  of  the  bloekdiouses  lor  a 
tlweilin;:,',  and  the  oilier  foi'  the  sah'  <>i'  ijjoods. 
Sonu;  years  afterwards.  MailleL  let"t  the  fort  for  a 
more  de'sirable  ]>lace  of  residence  and  trade,  and 
it  reniaincid  vacant  for  many  years,  the  t-nclosiire 
within  tiie  stockades  bcini;'  used  !)^  the  (jitizens 
in  conitnon  for  a  cow  yard. 

In  1S2(>  IIyp(»litc  Maillet,  in  lestilyiji.i,^  in  the 
United  -States  (%»urt,  in  a  suit  b;-oUi;'ht  on  Fivnch 
claims,  said  that  he  was  fortydive  years  old,  and 
was  b(»i'n  in  a  stockade  fort  which  >t(»od  near  tlie 
soutliern  exticinity  of  Peoria  iiak". 

In  tlie  winter  of  17<S8,  a  lar^v  party  i>f  Indians 
came  to  Peoria  lor  tlu'  [)iii'pose  of  trade,  and  in 
aeconhmce  with  their  former  pi'actice,  took  (piar- 
ters  in  the  old  fort.  Tluy  purchased  a  cask  of 
brandy  for  tlie  purj»ose  of  having'  a  .^j»ree.  All 
<i;ot  drunk,  liad  a  war  dance,  and  durini;-  their 
revelry  set  the  bloekdiouses  on  tire  and  burned 
them  down. 


LA  VILLE  DE  MATLLET. 


137 


Wlicn  tlie  AiiiLM-ioans  commeiictM]  a  settlement 
at  Peoria,  in  tlie  .s|triM;L:j  of  1819,  the  outlines  of 
the  (>I<1  French  tort  were  plain  to  be  seen  on  the 
hi^'h  ji;roun(l,  near  the  lake,  and  a  short  distance 
above  the  present  site  <»('  the  (/hicano  and  Rock 
Island  depot.  '^I'lie  line  of  eai'thwoiks  conid  be 
traced  out  b\  the  small  cmbaid-cments,  and  in  some 
])laces  piece,-  of  pickets  were  found  above-ground. 
Back  of  the  I'ort  was  the  remain.-  of  ;i  blacksmith 
shop,  and  nc:ir  bv  ;^re\v  :i  wild  ))lnrn  tree.  This 
j)lum  tree  w;is  duu  ujt  hv.J<'hi!  Ih'i.-kct,  the  owner 
of  the  land,  and  nndei'  it  \v;is  hmnd  a  vault  con- 
tainin;^;  a  (pianty  of  old  metal,  anion:;  which  were 
a  number  of  uiind>arrel>,  knive.-.  tomahawks,  cop- 
per and  bi'ass  trinket>.  ^Vc.  AmiMi;^' othci"  thin<;s 
ttnuul  in  this  vaidt,  wei'e  ['ieces  ot' sil\<'r  and  brass 
}>late  for  inlavin<^'  ^Lnm-stocks.  ornamenting''  knile- 
handles,  &c.  These  thin:i-s  ajipeared  to  be  the 
Btock  in  tradi'  of  a  gunsmith,  and  for  some  cause 
unkm»w!i  were  buried  here.* 

According'  to  the  statements  of  Antoine  Dos 
Chamjts,  Thomas  Forsyth  and  othci>,  who  had 
lonji  been  i'c;-id(  nts  of  I',  i.i'ia  prc\  ion.-  to  its  de- 
straiclion  in  l<Sl"j|.  wc  iifcr  tlmt  the  town  con- 
tained a  lari!;e  jtoj>u!ation.  Tl  fornn'd  u  link 
between  the  .-etileiiUMiis  oi  Kaska.->kia,  Cahokia 
and  (Canada,  and  bein  ;•  situated  in  the  midst  of 
*  "  HhUuucu'h  Ill.slory  of  Peoria." 


I 


Ivt 


i» 


5"!  r 


138        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

an  Indian  country,  caused  it  to  he  a  i;reat  })la('e 
of  fur  trade.  At  one  time  it  contained  alxmt 
sixty  houses,  besides  many  lodges  occupied  by 
Indians  part  of  the  year.  The  town  was  built 
along  tlie  beach  of  the  hike,  and  to  each  house 
was  attached  an  out-lot  for  a  ganlen,  which  ex- 
tended back  some  distance  on  tlic  prairie.  The 
houses  were  all  constructed  of  wood,  some  with 
frame  work  and  sided  up  with  sj)lit  timber,  while 
others  were  built  with  hewed  hju's,  notched 
toirether  after  the  style  of  a  pioneer's  cabin. 
The  floors  were  laid  with  puncheons,  and  the 
chimney  built  with  mud  and  sticks. 

General  Clark  con(piered  Illinois  and  took  pos- 
session of  the  settlements  at  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia 
in  1778,  after  which  he  sent  three  soldiers  with 
two  French  Creoles,  in  a  canoe  to  Peoria  to  no- 
tify the  people  that  they  were  no  longer  under 
British  rule,  but  citizens  of  the  (Tu ited  States. 
Among  these  soldiers  was  a  man  uame<l  Nicholas 
Smith,  afterwards  a  resident  of  Bourbon  county, 
Kentucky,  and  whose  son,  Joseph  Smith.  (Dad 
Joe)  was  the  among  the  first  American  settlers  at 
Peoria.  Through  this  channel  we  have  an 
account  of  Peoria  as  it  appeared  almost  a  century 
ago,  and  which  agrees  well,  with  other  tradi- 
tionary accounts. 

Mr.  Smith  said  Peoria,  at  the  time  of  his  yisit 


;^ 


FRENCH  INHABITANTS  AT  PEORIA. 


l;^9 


was  a  Vdry^a  town,  l»uilt  along  tlie  l)eacli  of  tlie 
lake,  M'itb  narrow,  unpaved  streets,  and  houses 
constrncted  ot  W(»od.  Back  of  the  town  were 
gardens,  ."^tock-yariU,  l)arn>,  i^'c,  and  among  these 
was  a  wine  press  witii  a  large  cellar  <jr  nnder- 
ijfround  vanlt  for  storinii'  wine.  There  was  a 
elinrch  with  a  larice  wooden  eross  risinii' above  the 
roof,  and  gilt  lettering  over  the  d(»or.  There  was 
an  unoccupied  fort  (*u  the  hank  of  the  lake,  and 
close  l>v  it  was  a  wind-inill  tor  i'-rindinii-  iirain. 
The  town  contained  six  stores  or  plaees  of  trade, 
all  of  whii-h  were  well  tilled  with  goods  for  the  In- 
dian market.  The  iidiahitants  consisted  of  French 
half  breeds  and  Indians,  not  one  of  whom  eould 
speak  or  understand  P^nglish. 


FRENCH  INHABITANTS  OF  PEORIA. 

The  inhabitants  of  Peoi'ia  consisted  of  P'rench 
Creoles,  emigrants  fi'om  Canada,  and  halt-breeds. 
Many  ol  them  intermarried  with  the  natives,  .so 
that  their  po.sterity  at  the  present  time  show  strong 
marks  of  Indian  (»rigin.  Tiny  were  a  peaceable, 
(juiet  people,  ign(^rant  and  superstitious,  and  in- 
fluenced very  much  by  the  [)riests.  They  had  no 
public  scho()ls,  and  but  lew  of  them  except  priest.s 
and  lra<lers,  could  read  orwriti'.  Out  of  eighteen 
claimants  foj-   tlie  land   where  Peoria  stands,  all 


II 


•■i  1 


i':', 


w 


140       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OP  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

luit  three  signed  tlieii-  names  with  a  mark. 
Among  the  inhabitants  were;  mei'i-liants  or  traders 
who  made  annual  tri])s  to  Canada  in  canoes,  car- 
rying thither  ])elts  and  (ur.s,  and  h)ading  l)ack 
with  j/oods  tor  tlie  Indian  market.  There  were 
mechanics  among  them,  such  as  bhicksmiths, 
wagon-makers,  carpentei's,  vtc;  and  most  of  the 
implements  used  in  farming  and  building  were  of 
home  niannfactnre.  Although  isolated  from  the 
civilized  world,  and  surrounded  by  savages,  their 
standard  of  morality  was  high  ;  tin. ft,  murder  and 
robber}'  was  seldom  heard  of.  They  were  a  gay, 
joyous  peo})ie,  having  njany  social  parties,  wine 
sup])ers  an»l  balls  ;  living  in  hai'uiony  with  the 
Indiana,  who  were  tlieii'  neighbors  ami  friends, 
and  in  ti'ading  with  them  they  accumulated  most 
of  their  wealtli. 

Tlie  French  settled  at  Peoria  without  a  grant 
or  pel-mission  from  any  g;overnment,  and  the  title 
to  theii"  lands  was  deriv(^d  from  [>o8session  (Uily. 
But  these  title---  wore  valid  according  to  usages,  as 
well  as  a  vilhige  ordinance, and  lancLs  \v»jre  hought 
and  sold  the  same  as  it  patcMited  by  government. 
Each  pcM'son  had  a  right  to  claim  any  portion  of 
the  unoccupied  land,  and  when  in  possession  his 
title  was  regarded  sacred.  Every  settler  had  a 
village  lot  for  a  garden  attached  to  his  residence, 
and   if  a  farmer,  a  portion  in  the  common   Held. 


FKBNCH  INHAiilTANTS  OF  PEoiilA. 


Ul 


On  the  prairie  west  of  the  town  were  extensive 
farms,  all  enclosed  in  (jne  field,  each  person  eon- 
tribntint;  his  share  of  feneing,  and  the  time  of 
seenring  the  (•i'oi)s  and  pasturin<i-  the  stock,  was 
rey-ulated  bv  a  town  ordinance.  The  bonndaries 
of  these  farms  conld  be  traced  out  in  the  early 
settlement  of  Peoria,  as  the  lands  showed  marks 
othaviiiii'  been  cidtivated.  When  a  voun;r  nian 
married,  a  villaij'e  lot,  and  a  tract  of  land  in  the 
common  field  (i(  a  f;trmer)  was  assii;ncd  to  him, 
and  it  was  customary  for  the  citizens  to  turn  (»ut 
and  build  liim  a   house. 

The  inhabitants  of  Peoria  had  extensive  vine- 
yards, and  each  vear  made  a  lar^'e  (luantitv  of 
wine,  much  of  which  they  traded  to  the  Indians 
in  exchange  foi'  furs.  T!ic\'  domesticated  the 
buffalo  ami  crossed  tlieni  with  native  cattle,  which 
was  found  to  impi'ove  ihe  stock.  These  cattle 
could  li\e  diirii»{J  the  winter  without  the  expense 
of  feedina,  but  while  bulla lo  I'emained  in  the 
countrv  thev  lost  nianv  bv  strayiuif  of!'  with  the 
herd.  t)n  the  foliowinij;  summer,  after  the  French 
were  driven  awav  from  Peoria,  a  partv  of  adven- 
turers from  St.  Clair  countv  came  here  and  drove 


a  larj/e   number  of  these  ca 


th 


ittle  1 


lome  wi 


th  th 


em. 


These   cattle  were  hiirhly  ])rized  by  the   inhabi- 


tants,  as  they    would    winter    on    the    American 
Bottoms    wdthout   haxinii'    to    i'r('{\    them.     This 


WW 


f  1 


142        FRENCH  AND  INDIAN8  OF  ILLINOIS   KIVER, 

stock  of  cattle  was  known  here  for  many  years, 
and  at  tlie  present  time  some  of  their  off-spring 
show  marks  of  buffalo  origin,  and  tlieir  liides  are 
fre(piently  tanned  for  robes.* 

When  a  settlement  was  commenced  at  Peoria, 
the  country  belonged  to  France,  afterwards  to 
Gre;^'  P'"'  >,  and  lastly  to  the  United  Ststes. 
When  ]  .  oi.  came  under  British  rule  in  1756, 
Captain  StirliuL^,  commanding  at  Ivaskaskia,  sent 
a  messe  -e;-  to  J\'^'ria  to  notify  them  that  they 
were  British  sul>jo'  '.•.  Afterwards,  when  Illinois 
by  conquest  came  under  United  States  authority, 
they  were  again  notified  of  a  change  in  govern- 
ment, but  they  still  remained  French  in  feeling 
and  sympathy.  They  claimed  no  allegiance  to 
any  government,  paid  no  taxes,  and  acktiowledged 
no  law  except  their  own  village  ordinance.  While 
these  people  were  living  in  peace  and  liarmony. 


I 


'  !!; 


•For  one  hundred  years  after  the  FrencJi  made  a  settlement  In 
the  west,  no  h(jrseH  except  Indiiin  ponies  were  used  l)y  tliein, 
and  for  the  Ur.st  lliirty  years  cattle  and  hogs  were  unknown. 
Tradition  says  two  young  pigs  were  brought  in  a  canoe  from 
Canada  to  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  from  these  hogs  were  raised  to 
supply  the  setitlenients  on  the  Mississippi.  At  L'ahokia  the 
settlers  caught  a  nunil)er  of  liud'alo  calves,  and  raised  them 
witli  the  expectation  of  domesticating  them,  Init  it  proved  a 
failure,  for  they  went  olf  with  a  herd  or  wild  oiuis. 

It  Is  said  when  C'ozat  obtained  a  patent  for  the  Illinois  coun- 
try. In  1771,  then  culled  Louisiana,  his  agent.  Colonel  Oe  Mott, 
employed  two  half-breeds  to  drive  a  herd  of  cattle  through  the 
wilderness  from  (ana  to  Kaskaskia,  and  from  these  origina- 
ted the  Htuck  lu  the  Mississippi  valley. 


FRENCH  TNnAIUTANTS  oF  PKOiilA. 


143 


beiiifir  two  IhiikIicmI  mile?;  from  the  nearest  point 
of  eiviliz<iti(»ii,  they  were  attaeked  by  an  armed 
force,  their  town  burned  and  the  lieads  of  fami- 
lies carried  off  prisoners  of  war,  as  will  he  narratt'<l 
in  a  subsequent  cliapter.  There  are  many  inci- 
dents related,  showing  that  trouble  existed  at 
dilferent  times  between  the  P^'reneh  and  their  red 
neighbors,  among  which  are  the  loUowing: 

In  the  year  1781,  a  Frenchman  killed  an  Indian 
with  wliom  he  liad  trouble,  and  for  a  time  all  the 
white  p<)]vulation  were  threatened  with  destruc- 
tion. A  large  l>arty  of  warriors  came  to  Peoria 
and  demajided  tlie  murderer,  l)ut  lie  coidd  n(»t  be 
found,  having  lied  down  the  river,  as  was  after- 
wards shown.  But  the  Indians  believed  that  the 
murderer  was  secreted  by  his  friends,  so  they 
ga\e  the  French  three  days  to  deliver  him  up, 
and  it' not  forthcoming  at  the  speeilied  rime  tfiey 
would  burn  the  town.  This  caused  a  great  painc  ; 
some  lied  for  Cahokia.  others  took  (piarters  in  the 
toil,  but  before  the  time  had  expired,  the  Indians 
were  convinced  tluit  the  murderer  luul  tied,  con- 
sequently [)ledges  o(   friendship  were  I'cnewed. 

Again,  in  IT'^O,  abdut  five  hundred  wai'riors 
came  to  Peoria  and  demanded  tin.'  surrender  of  a 
certain  trader,  whom  they  ac(.'Us(Ml  of  causing  the 
murder  of  Pien-e  de  Ileuru,  but  tiiially  h't't  with- 
out him. 


i 

I 


I 


M 


h 


hh 


*n 


CIIAPTEK  XIII. 


I  J 


V  i 


i-  h 


PONTIAO. 

Prolmbly  no  North  American   Indian   has  ac- 
({uir(3(l  so  mud)  lame  and  notoriety,   and   whose 
jio\ve»'    was    so     mucli     felt   in    the  early   settle- 
ment ot   the   C'oiintrv,  uh   Pontiac     This  Indian, 
to  whom   liistorians  so  often   ret'ei',  was    l)oin  anti 
raised  near  Detroit,  and  tor  many  years  was  head 
cliiet'  ot  the    Ottawas.     Like    Phillij),    ot  Mount 
Hope,    his    j)ovver    and  intiuence    extenikMJ   over 
neighboriniij  tribes,  aiid  lie  was  more  like  a  king 
than  a  chief.     So  long  as  the  French  held  domin- 
ion over  the  west,  and  conducted  tlie  trade  of  the 
lake  country,  Pontiac  lived  on  friendly  terms  with 
them,    but   when    it  came    in    posession    of   the 
British,  he  denounced  the  latter  as  enemies  to  his 
peo|)le,  and    made  an   effort  to  drive  them    fi'om 
the  country.     While  Major  Rogers,  of  the  Bi'itish 
army,  was  marching  westw^ard  with  a  regiment  of 
soldiers,  lor  the  purpose  of  taking  possession  ol' 
Detroit,  he  was  met  by  Pontiac,  who  iiujuired  by 


} 


PONTIAO. 


145 


wliat  aiUhoritj  lie  was  ])assing  through  hiseuun- 

nre  raised  to  its  I'ul]  liiglit, 

e  lace 


try.     With  his  tall  li 


and  while  holding  his  right   hand  before  th 


of  the  Britisl 


1  coinniander,  he  said  to    hini,   "I 


stand   in  y(»ur  path,  a.id  you   can   go  no  further 
without  in 
H 


permission. 


owever,  Pontine  allowed  the  British   to  tal< 
possessiou  of  the  French  trading  posts  alon-  tl 


lak 
tl 


e 
le 


Ives,  and  tor  a  time  professed  to  be  friendly  toward 
lem.     But  a  few  \ 


ears  afterwards  h 


e  made  war 


against  the  red  coats  and  tried  to  drive  them  I..,, 
the  country.     He  united  with  him  all  the  nehd 


rom 


)oring  tribes,  forming   what  is  k 


as  Pontiac's  Conspiracy,  and  a  1 


novvn  m   histor 


o 


war  resulted. 


n^  and    bloody 


In  order  to  carry   on  the  war,  tl 
issued    checks    cut    out  of    birch     bar'k,    call 


lis  great  chief 


for    various 
;heck 


lUi'* 


amounts 


payabl 


e    in    furs. 


Tl 


ehecks  were  taken  bv  dilferent  tril 


lese 


t 


)e8  m  payment 


or  munitions  ot  war,  and  all  of  which   were   re- 
deemed according  to  agreement. 

Pontiac  was  an   Indian  of  gigantic  stat 


tue  :   a 


unlimited 


towering  intellect,  and  exercised  almost 
power  over  his  followers.     He  pretended  to  com- 
mune  with  the  Great  Spirit,  who  on  one  occasion 

ogs  in  red 


sai( 


;lotl 


i  to  liim  :  ''  Why  do  you  let  tliese  d 


ling  take  possesion  of  vour  count 


your  might  and  drive  them  from  the  land. 


I'v;  rise  m 


'I 


T 


it 


i 


11 


I 


14H        FKKNCH   AND  INDIANS  OF  ILI.INoIR  RIVER. 

Pontiac,  in  an  McMress  to  liis  warriors,  8aid  : 
"  Althoiiij^li  tlu'  i^A  coats  have  coiKinered  the 
Frencli,  they  ha\e  not  ('onc^uerod  us.  We  arc 
not  slaves  nor  s(|uavvs,  and  as  hnii;  a>  iht*  Great 
Si)ii'it  is  our  ruh-r.  we  will  maintain  our  riij:lits. 
These  lakes,  and  these  woods  were  i2:iven  ns  hy 
our  I'athi  rs,  and  wo  willpai't  witii  them  only  with 
tiur  lives." 

P\)i'  a  lunjj;  time  Pontiac  was  victiU'ioiis,  l»nt  at 
last  the  fortune  of  war  turned  a*j,'ainst  him  ;  then 
his  allies  forsook  his  causi-  nnd  made  ])eaee  with 
till'  I'ritisli.  ( )n  hciuir  lictraycd  hy  his  allies,  he 
llcil  trom  the  ('(»nntiy  and  found  refu<;'e  on  the 
Kankakee  river,  a  siiort  distance  ahove  its  junc- 
tion with  th.e  IlliiKti.-.  In  his  ti^ht  from  Michi- 
li'an  he  was   acc(»nn>a(ned  hv  jihout  two   hundred 

Cr  ■  It 

warriors,  with  tluar  s(|uawsand  pappooses.  Witii 
this  remnant  ol'  his  hand  he  (orm(Ml  an  alliance 
with  the  I'otlaw  atomies,  who,  at  that  time,  occu- 
pied the  lake  and  \Vai>asli  counties,  and  tioin 
thenceforth  they  hecume  one  trihe. 

Pontiac,  hy  locating  his  hand  on  Kaid<akee 
river,  i;ave  olfeiise  to  the  Illinois  Indians,  who 
W(^re  the  owners  ot  the  land  ;  conse(|ueiitly, 
Kineboo,  the  head  chief,  accompanied  hy  a  reti- 
nue of  warriors,  mounted  on  ponies,  went  to  the 
Ottawa  canij),  where  they  found  the  new  comers 
engaged  in  building  loilges   and  making  prepara- 


l 


:)il 


mmtu'm-tftaasma 


MASSACRE  OF  A  IIUNTIN(J  I'AKTV, 


M7 


Moms  fn  plant  corn.  KinclnM.  nutificW  tl,n„  tl,;,i 
'I'^-y  u-cre  rros|,as«eJvsa.ul  ;^avv  tlie.n  two  inoo,,,-, 
<'»  '<'«v(-  til.,  eountrv,  l.iit  if  i;,u)h1  tliov  at  I  he 
•'•^[•"•atinn  o(  that  time,  he  vvuuhi  n'l.iovc  fhein 
ky  toive.  Hnr  wh<-..  thelllinoia.Ksto.UHlthattho 
)ltavva.s  vvcM'e  hacked  by  the  iM.uerfu!  trihe  of 
I  oltawatoinies,  they  did  not  n.okvst  theni 


MA8SACKE  OF    A   HUNTING   PAKTY. 

Diirino.  the  sinnnier  season    the  hutfalo,  on    ac- 
rnuut  of  the  -reen-headed   flies,  wouhl   leave  th(^ 
Wahash  country  and  tlie  prairies  on  the  eastj.art 
•d  the   State,  and    rangr  west  and    nortli    of  the 
Illinois  river.     Oonse.p.entlv,    hiiffalo   were    sel- 
'i'"'i  seen  south  and  east,  while  the  prairies  to  the 
westward,  tor  miles    in  extent,   were    fre(pientlv 
l>lack-ened    with   laru-e   herds    of    them.      On    this 
'•<•*'< >"nt  the  Pottawatomies  and  Ottawas  M-ere  in 
the   hahit  of  hunting'    hnmUo  west   of  the  river 
which  gave  ollei.se  to  the  [llinoians,    the   owners 
"t  the  country,  and  who  n-arded  these   lnintin<r 
parties  as  tresj^assers  on  their  ri^'hts. 
V  party  of  about  thirty  Ottawa  hunters 


whom  was   Pcmtiac,  had  been    killing- 1 


I'iiig  the  di 
west  of  La  Vant 


iUffi 


ly  on  the  prairie.  alxMit    ei-dit  1 


um. 


At 


II  long 

lio  du- 

eagues 

ight  they  camped  in  a 


grove  ot  timber,  with  the  intention   o{ 


1 


renew  11 1  u- 


148       FRKNCIT  AND  INDIANS  (>K    ILLINcH:*  RIVER. 


m! 


if^ 


:m,. 

ill 


llie  hunt  tlicj  following  day.  Next  iiioniiiip;, 
while  tliis  huntiiif^  1*''^'*^}'  w(M"e  sitting-  around  the 
camp-fire  cooking  their  breakfast,  unconscious  of 
(L'niger,  they  were  attacked  by  a  hu-gc  party  of 
Illinois  warriors,  and  the  most  of  them  slain. 
Poiitiac  wa;?  wounded  in  this  affair,  but  by  the 
Bwittness  of  his  pony  made  his  escape.* 

A  bloo<ly  war  followed  this  nuissacre  of  the 
huntin<;  party,  and  for  a  long  time  was  carried  on 
with  varying  success,  both  sides  meeting  with 
victories  and  defeats.  The  Pottawatomies  and 
Ottawas  would  send  war  parties  into  the  Illinois 


' 


1 1' 


*The  grove  referred  to  Is  supposed  to  have  been  the  head  of 
Hureau  timljer,  near  the  vina>_'eof  La  MoiUo,  and  known  In  the 
early  settlonienl  of  the  country  as  Dimnili-k  Grove.  In  tlie 
sprnii^of  is;5i)  Daniel  Itininiick  inaile  a  elalni  here,  and  built  a 
cabin  near  tlie  liead  of  the  fjirove,  on  what  is  now  known  as  llie 
Collin's  farm.  He  lived  on  tliis  claim  about  two  years,  until 
the  beginning  of  the  IJlack  Hawk  war,  when  he  left  it  antl 
never  returncil,  but  for  many  years  the  grove  bore  his  name. 

A  short  distance  below  Dimn)ick's  cabin,  near  the  bank  of 
IMke  creelc,  and  by  the  side  of  a  spring,  was  an  old  Indian 
camping  ground,  and  during  the  fall  and  winter  liunting  par- 
ties were  frequently  found  liere.  In  the  winter  of  l^:;0-:il,  a 
l)arty  <»t  Indians  from  the  Illinois  river,  among  whom  was  the 
noted  chief  .^liick  shack,  were  encamped  here  for  many  days, 
while  hunting  deer  in  the  grove. 

Sliick  Shack  said  to  Dimmlck,  while  in  conversation,  that  a 
long  time  ago  a  hunting  party  of  Ottawa  Indians  were  en- 
camped on  tills  very  spot,  when  they  were  attiicked  by  the 
Illinoians,  a  large  portion  of  them  killed,  and  their  great  war 
chief,  Pontiac,  wounded.  From  that  time,  continued  the  old 
chief,  the  triliis  were  at  war  with  eacli  other,  wiikh  continued 
until  allJ.he  Illinoians  were  slain,  the  last  of  whom  perished 
on  Starved  Rock. 


t 


ASSA.SSIxNATlON  OF  PON  11  AC. 


141) 


('(MUitry,  burn  their  towns,  destroy  tlicir  coi'ii, 
kill  their  sfjiuiWB  Jiiid  pappoci^es,  ainl  carrv  oil' 
with  them  ponies,  furs  and  other  vahuihh-s.  Then 
the  Illinoians  woidd  retaliate  on  their  enemies  hv 
makinij-  raids  into  their  (-(Mintrv,  killini:',  hnr?niii: 
and  destroying  everything  that  lay  in  their  way. 
After  this  wai'  had  contiiined  tor  some  time,  the 
Illinoians  sued  tor  peace,  and  a  council  was  called 
to  aii'ree  on  terms. 

INDIAN    COUNCIL —PONTIAU    A8HA8SIN ATKD. 

The  council  met  at  a  mound  near  the  presiMit 
site  of  Joliet,  and  was  attended  hy  all  the  war- 
ehiefs  of  the  respective  ti'ihes.  For  a  time,  the 
doliherations  of  the  council  wei-e  harmonious,  hut 
when  the  allies  claimed  a  [)arL  of  the  Illinois  tei- 
ritory  as  the  only  condition  of  peace,  there  arose 
an  ill  feeling  among  them.  Kinehoo.  the  head 
chief  of  the  Illinoians,  in  a  speech,  said  :  "  Rather 
than  submit  to  these  ternis,  he  and  his  wairiors 
would  sacrifice  the  last  dro[i  of  blood  in  their 
veins,  and  leave  their  squaw^  and  paj)poosesto  be 
scalped  by  a  barbarous  enemy."  Poiitiac  next 
addressed  the  council.  His  till,  maidy  form, 
unimpaired  by  age,  was  an  object  of  admiration, 
and  liis  sprightly  elo([uence  carrie<l  all  his  friends 
with  liim.     With  ii'i-eat  enthusiasm  he  called  on 


tf 


150       FKKN(JII  AND  INDIANS   (»F    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


U    I 


I 


h 


Ills  brother  cljiurs  to  .staiul  bv  liitn,  and  never  luv 
down  the  tomahawk  until  tlicir  terni(>  were  ac- 
ceded to.  While  Pontiac  was  tlius  talkinij;, 
Kineboo  drew  his  sealjting  knife  and  stabbed  him 
to  tlie  heart.  Thus  perished  the  greate.-:t  warrior 
of  his  day. 

History  <^"ivcs  various  aecounts  of  Pontiac^'s 
<leath,  tlie  year  and  phice  of  itsoccurrenee,  and  the 
manner  of  his  end  are  contiietin^'.  One  account 
says  he  was  assassinated  in  council;  another  that 
he  was  killed  in  a  druidsen  row  at  Cahokia,  and 
also  killed  while  (M1  a  l)ulla'o  hunt.  However, 
all  accounts  a<n-ee  that  in  avcnii-ini!-  his  death  a 
war  was  inaugurated  which  resulted  in  the  anni- 
hilation of  the  Illinois  Indians,  but  all  fail  to 
show  any  connection  between  the  two  events.* 


II 


u 


♦In  tlie  snininer  of  17(!7  a  Inr^e,  propossessUig  Ottawa  Indian, 
clrossed  In  a  Frencli  uniform,  with  a  white  leatlier  in  iilHoap, 
(.'unuMo  .St.  Louis  ai\i.l  n-piesenleii  liituscU"  to  the  foinniaiultu" 
lit  tlie  post,  Lii'ut  Angf,  as  rontiac;.  S(nt»e  days  afifrward, 
this  poiupons  Indian  crossed  the  river  in  a  canoe  and  went 
down  tocuhokia,  where  he  was  n\uch  li()nized  l)y  French  and 
haif-hreeds,  all  of  whom  believed  him  to  l)ethe  firesit  ( ittnwn 
chief,  Poniiac.  Indians  from  a  n'Myiliboriuf?  vUla<iecamo  into 
see  him  and  listen  to  his  hoastiun  liarant.nies,  in  which  he  said 
h(^  intended  touniteall  tlu' tribes  of  the  west,  ihive  the  tiritish 
from  t  lie  country,  and  restoie  to  the  l-'reuch  all  their  former 
trading  posts. 

An  KiisHsh  trader  at  CnhoUia,  named  Williamson,  beinec 
afraid  that  roiitiac  would  induce  liis  new  nuule  triends  to  de- 
stroy his  stock  in  trade,  f^avo  a  drunken  Onllaii  a  Iwrrel  ot 
whisky  to  assassinate  him.  While  the  re])uted  Pontiac  was 
sitting  ou  lh«  ground  at  the  root  of  a  tree,  explaining  to  those 


ASSASSINATION    OP    PO.VTIAC. 


151 


The  MSt-;tssiii;iti(;ii  of  P«.iiti;u'  caused  luoiiniini;' 
f lir<Hii;lHMit  tlic  couiilry,  .uid  {(rcpanitioiis  wi-i-c 
made  to  a\"eiige  his  deatli.  RmiiuM's  were  sciil 
aiiitti!;:;  the  WiiineljaiiH^es  at  the  ii(irlh,ai!d  ariioiii;' 
the  Kiekapoos  of  the  soutlieast,  all  of  wiioin 
agi'eed  to  take  part  in  the  war  and  punish  the 
murderer.-^  of  this  great  Indian  ehanijnon. 

With  these  tribes  united,  the  war  was  renewed 
with  li'reat  vigor,  and  for  savage  barbarity  it  has 
no  parallel  in  Indian  warfare.  Instead  of  its  be- 
ing a  war  of  eouipiest,  as  before,  it  beeauic  a  war 
of  extermination,  and  resulted  in  the  annihilation 
ol  the  Illinois  Indians,  and  their  eountry  oeeu- 
]»ied  by  the  eoiupierors,  as  will  be  »ln)wn  in  the 
si.eeeeding  ehapters. 

Over  the  remains  of  Pontiae  the  warriors  held 
d   eouneil,  at    which    they    swore    bv    the    u'reat 


:i 


around  him  the  plans  wliich  he  lia«l  adoplod  to  lUive  llie  ivil 
cotitsout  ol  tht'  country,  the  drunkon  Indian  employed  by 
Williamson  eaine  up  bihind  liim  and  liurit'd  his  tomahawk  in 
his  brain.  An  account  of  tliis  att'air  luund  its  way  into  the 
newspajxTs  ol"  tlie  day,  and  became  a  maiter  of  history.  This 
account  of  the  death  of  I'onllae  was  strfus'hened  by  his  iwinal 
itealh.  v^hicli  occurred  ;i  year  or  two  aili  iwaul,  and  exphi'ii  *  to 
some  extent  the  errors  of  history. 

Accordlny;  to  the  statement  of  8haut)ena,  Waubonsie,  and 
other  Indians.  I'ontiac  was  assa.'^sinatetl  while  spcakiii;;  in 
council  at  Mt.  Jolici,  and  the  war  whiih  loilowed  it  causeil  the 
destruction  of  the  Illinois  Indians. 

.\  liaiid  ol  Ottawa  Indians,  knuwn  as  l'oiUiac'>,  were  living  at 
a  vill»ti»^  "n  Kankakee  river,  in  tin*  early  settlement  of  the 
country,  and  tlieir  tieseendunts  are  now  living  in  Western 
Kansas. 


I  h 


1 


! 
i! 


152 


FRENCH  SETTLEMENT  AT  PKORIA. 


Manii  J  of  war  that  the  fallen  chainpion's  death 
slioiild  be  avenged,  and  they  set  to  work  prepar- 
ing for  its  execution.  Ah  80on  as  Pontiac  had 
breathed  his  last,  they  cut  off  his  head  and  legs, 
boiled  them  to  se]>arate  the  Hesh  from  the  bones, 
and  with  the  skull  and  cross-bones  placed  on  a 
pointed  pole,  were  prepared  to  go  forth  to  victory. 

Warriors  of  dilferent  tribus,  who  had  fought 
with  Pontiac  against  the  British,  now  came  for- 
ward to  avenge  his  death.  Pottawatamies,  of 
Michigan,  Miamis  and  Kickapoos,  from  the  Wa- 
bash, came  west  and  took  part  in  the  war.  Even 
the  white  outlaw,  Bernett,  who  had  long  since 
become  a  savage  and  a  chief  of  a  small  band, 
marshaled  his  warriors  an<l  took  part  in  the  bloody 
strife  which  followed.  The  combined  forces  of 
the  diflerent  tribes  ct)nstituted  tlie  most  formi- 
dable Indian  ai-niy  ever  collected  in  the  west, 
and  for  savage  brutality  their  acts  have  no  ])ar- 
allel  in  the  history  ot  Indian  warfai'e.  Tlieir 
motto  was  victory  or  death — no  <]uarter  to  the 
enemy,  and  never  lay  down  the  tomahawk  until 
the  Illinoians  were  annihilated 

The  allied  forces  attacked  and  destroyed  all  the 
villages  along  the  Illinois  river,  killing  and  scal[)- 
ing  defenceless  squaws  and  ])appoose8;  but  the 
principal  town.  La  Vantum,  which  was  well  forti- 
fied and  defended  by  the  bravest  warriors,  they 


I 


AVENGING  THE  DEATH  OF  PONTIAC. 


153 


liad  not  molested.  At  thh  town  the  remnants  of 
the  dilTerent  bands  were  collected,  and  here  they 
intended  to  inake  their  last  defense  at^ainst  the 
victorious  invaders. 

Small  timbers  and  brush  were  brought  from 
the  neighboi'ing  groves,  with  which  barricades 
were  erected  around  three  sides  of  the  town,  the 
river  bounding  the  fourth.  Inside  this  fortifica- 
tion were  collecte<l,  from  many  distant  towns,  all 
that  was  now  left  oi'  tlie  Illinois  Indians,  num- 
bering about  ten  thousand,  of  whom  two  thousand 
wei'e  warriors. 

Days  and  weeks  passed  away — the  summer  was 
almost  ended — and  the  enemy  had  not  been  seen 
in  the  vicinity,  so  they  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  the}'  had  l(;tt  the  country.  Preparations  were 
made  for  holding  a  great  feast  and  olfering  U}) 
sacrifices  to  the  Manito  of  war  for  deliverance 
Irom  the  tomahawks, and  scali)ing  knives  ot  their 
enemies.  Fronting  the  council-house  an  altar 
was  erected,  and  many  of  their  most  valuable 
articles  burned  thereon.  A  pjunber  ot  tavrtrite 
dogs  were  killed  and  roasted  whole,  on  which  the 
warriors  feasted,  wliih*  offering  up  j>rayer  and 
thanksijivini''  to  the  iifods  of  war.  Music  and 
dancing  was  again  heird  in  the  great  Illinois 
capital,  and  the  people,  oKl  and  young,  gave 
themselves    up    to    enjoyment.      The    warriors 


If 


154      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  KIVKK. 


l)roii<^lit  fortli  the  scalps  taken  from  tlio  eiusiiij, 
.111(1  ill  iiierrv  t*;lee  danced  around  tlieni.  Naked 
pappooses  ])layed  in  the  dirt,  and  ran  to  and  IVo 
yelling  and  laui^hinu  a.s  in  former  tinitis.  Young 
inaidens  and  their  lovers  amused  tliemselves  with 
soni;;s  and  dances,  and  talked  of  ha[>i>_y  days  in 
future.  For  weeks  the  Indians  ^ave  themselves 
u])  to  feasting  and  amusement,  unconscious  of  the 
great  calamity  wliich  was  ahout  to  befall  them. 

It  was  near  the  close  of  a  warm  day  in  the 
early  part  of  Indian  summer,  wlieii  the  Indians 
of  both  sexes,  arrayed  in  their  l)est  appiirel,  orna- 
mented with  beads,  leathers  and  rings,  were 
collected  in  an  o})eii  square  on  the  river  bank  to 
celebrate  the  muri'iageof  the  head  chiefs  daughter. 
But  while  in  the  midst  of  ij^aitv.  thev  were  hor- 
rilied  to  see  the  great  meadow  back  of  the  town, 
covered  with  the  enemy,  who,  with  great  rapidity, 
were  moving  on  them.  In  front  of  the  invaders, 
on  a  red  pole,  was  carried  the  skull  and  cross- 
bones  of  Pontiac,  showing  that  no  (juarter  would 
be  asked  or  given. 

The  drums  beat;  the  warriors  grasped  tlieir 
arms,  and  in  a  moment  were  ready  tor  battle, 
while  a  wail  of  lamentation  was  raised  bv  the 
frightened  squaws  and  pap})Ooses.  On  came  the 
allied  forces,  with  theirw^ar-clubs  and  tomahawks 
raised  above  their  heads,  and  so  rapid  was  their 


■•tl^ 


AYENGING  THE  DEATH  OF  PONTIAC. 


155 


movement,  witlioiit  opposition,  a  large  nnml^er 
of  them  scaled  the  breastwork  and  entered  the 
town.  But  he^-e  the  assailants  were  met  hy  the 
defenders,  and  n:.»st  of  them  slain  i)etore  thev  could 
reeross  it  and  join  their  comrades.  When  the  in- 
vadei's  saw  the  fate  of  '.heir  advanced  force,  thev 
were  spell-hound,  and  before  recovering  from  their 
panic,  the  lUinoians  in  a  large  force  attacked 
them,  when  they  tied  in  confusion,  having  behind 
their  dead  and  wounded. 

The  attacking  party  being  repulsed  with  great 
slanghter,  retired  to  Bulfahr  Rock,  where  they 
called  a  council  of  war,  at  which  speeches  were 
made  by  the  leading  war-chiefs,  all  of  whom 
favored  prosecuting  the  war. 

In  this  council  it  was  agrtied  to  renew  the  attack 
in  the  morning,  aiul  never  cease  lighting  until  the 
Illinoians  wereextei'minate<l.  The  morning  came, 
and  witli  it  (*anu'  blood  and  carnage,  uneijualed 
in  Indian  warfare. 

After  the  invaders  were  repidsed  the  Illinoians 
spent  the  night  in  dancing  over  the  scalps  they 
liad  taken  during  the  day,  and  offering  uj)  saci'i- 
fices  t<»  the  great  Manito  of  war  lor  their  success 
in  battle.  Having  spent  the  night  in  rejoicing 
they  were  found  asleej)  in  the  morning,  and  while 
in  this  situation  were  again  attacketl,  and  befoi'e 
they  could    marshal   their  hosts    the   inva<hirs,  in 


u 


!-4 


156       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OP  ILLINOIS  RIVEK. 


great  numbers,  entered  tlie  town,  killing  all  that 
lay  in  their  course,  sparing  neither  s(|uaws, 
pappooses,  aged  or  inlirin.  But  the  assailants 
were  ai»:ain  met  by  brave  Illinois  warriors  and 
repulsed  with  great  slaughter.  Again  and  again 
the  town  was  entered,  when  a  hand  to  hand  con- 
flict raged  with  fearful  strife,  the  allies  falling 
back  onlj  for  reinforcements. 

For  twelve  long  hours  the  battle  i-aged,  a  large 
portion  of  the  Illinois  warriors  were  slain,  and 
hundreds  of  squaws  and  pappooses  lay  lifeless  in 
their  bloody  goi-e.  Night  at  last  catne,  but  the 
battle  continued,  and  against  the  large  invading 
force  the  defenders  could  make  but  a  feeble  re- 
sistance, and  soon  all  must  l)e  slain.  But  fortu- 
nately a  heavy  rain  stor;n  came  on,  and  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night  it  became  impossible  to 
distinguish  friends  from  foes,  con se<pientl_y  further 
ijlaughter  was  sus})etuled  until  moruHig. 


CIIAPTEH  XIY. 


THE  ROCK  (»F  REFUGE.* 

During  a  heavy  rain  storiu  and  the  darkness  of 
the  night,  the  lUinuians  huinched  iheir  eanoes, 
crossed  tlie  river  and  ascended  Starved  Rock. 
Ilerci  on  this  rock  were  collected  the  remnant  of 
the  Illinois  Indians,  consisting  of  about  twelve 
hundred,  three  hundred  of  whom  were  warriors. 
On  this  rock  the  fugitives  considered  themselves 
sale  from  their  enemies,  and  thay  ottered  up 
prayers  and  sang  songs  of  })raise  to  the  great 
Manito  for  their  sale  deliverance.     Many    years 

*  On  the  itith  of  September,  ifsTo,  a  meeting  was  held  on 
stiuved  Itock  to  commemorate  the  two  UundreiUh  anuivt 
sary  of  Its  discovery  by  Jollet  and  Manjuette.  This  meetin 
was  attended  by  a  lnvae  number  of  people  from  the  nelj^hlior- 
ing  towns,  many  speeches  wei-e  inad<',  toasts  fj;iven,  and  the 
celebration  was  aureat  success.  A  liis^h  pole  was  erected  on 
the  summit  of  the  Rock  from  which  waved  the  stars  and 
stripes,  where  the  Krench  flag  had  waved  nearly  two  centuries 
before. 

At  tiiis  meeting,  one  Perry  Armstrong  of  Grundy  county,  de- 
livered a  speech  entitled,  'A  Ijcgciid  of  Stnrved  Hock,"  pur- 
porting to  l)e  tlic  statement  of  an  olil  Indian  cluef  named 
rthick  Shack.    This  speech  was  extensively  copied   by  news- 


: 


I      M\ 


A   ■ 

ii 


158       FliENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


I 


before,  Toiiti,  witli  fifty  French  soldiers  and  one 
liuudred  Indian  allies,  held  this  roc-k  when  ut- 
taeked  by  two  thousand  Ii'0(|U<»is,  and  put  them  to 
llit.;ht;  consequently,  on  this  spot  they  I'clt  secure. 
Morning  came,  and  with  it  a  clear  skv  an<l  a 
briij;ht  sun  ;  and  from  their  elevated  position  they 
looked  down  on  their  enemies  encam]>ed  on  the 
<j^reat  meadow  bchtw.  Soon  the  allied  forces  were 
in  motion,  moving  on  the  town  for  the  pur[)ose 
of  completini^  their  l)loody  work  ;  but  they  soon 
discovered  that  their  intended  victims  had  tied. 
The  towu  was  burned  and  the  slain  left  unburied, 
where  their  swollen  and  distorted  remains  were 
found  some  days  afterwards. 

papers,  and  read  with  interest  by  tliose  wlio  regarded  tlie 
legend  unite  probnble,  if  ndt  stiietly  trne. 

Poor  old  Sliicit  Slia<-lv,  wlio  long  since  had  g(jne  to  tlie  liappy 
hunting  grounds  ot  liis  lathers,  was  made  to  give  a  detailed  ac- 
eounf  of  many  great  battles  fonglit  along  the  Illinois  river,  and 
the  linal  tragedy  on  Starved  lioek,  in  all  of  wiucli  Ik-  bore  apart, 
but  in  (act  must  have  occurred  a  sliort  lime  before  he  was  brrn, 
if  we  cvedit  tht  traditions  f)f  others 

Hut  the  most  remaikable  part  of  Sliiek  Shuck's  story,  i.s  the 
great  duel  fouirlit  near 'rcrre  Haute,  Indiana,  wiili  three  hun- 
dred on  a  side  and  among  the  combatants  was  himself  and  an- 
otiier  chief  named  Sugar.  This  tluel  lasted  twelve  long  iiours, 
when  all  the  warriors  were  killed  except  five  on  one  side 
ond  seven  on  tlie  other.  Thi'  old  cbief  intbrmed  us  that  neither 
himself  nor  Sugar  were  killed  in  tliis  long  and  bloody  affair. 

This  great  duel  described  by  Shick  Shack,  is  thought  to  be  tlie 
same  one  sp(jken  of  in  the  Hil)le  between  tlie  hosts  of  Abner 
and  Joab,  and  the  place  of  meeting,  Pool  of  (Jibeon,  instead  of 
'IV'rre  Ffaute.  as  above  stated,  and  the  nunil>er  of  combatants 
having  been  increased  from  fwtdve  on  ea<'li  side  to  tliret;  hun- 
dred, in  order  to  correspond  with  tlie  balance  of  the  legend. 


THE  ROCK  OF  REFUGE. 


159 


Tlie  allied  forces  forded  tlic  river  on  the  rapids, 
surromided  Starved  R(>ck,and  prepared  tliemsclves 
for  ascendin<!;  it  in  order  to  complete  tlieir  victory. 
With  deafening  yells  the  warriors  crowded  np 
the  rocky  pathway,  but  on  reachin«^  the  sumniit 
they  were  met  by  brave  Illinoians,  who,  with 
war-clubs  and  tomahawks,  sent  tliem  bleeding  and 
lifeless  down  the  rugged  precipice.  Others  as- 
cended the  rock  to  take  part  in  the  Hglit,  but 
they,  too,  met  the  fate  of  their  comrades.  Again 
and  again  the  assailants  rallied,  atid  rushed  for- 
ward to  assist  their  triends,  but  one  after  an(.)ther 
were  shiin  on  reaching  its  summit,  and  tlieir  life- 
less bodies  thrown  trom  the  rock  into  the  river. 
On  came  fresh  bauds  of  assailants,  who  were 
made  valiant  by  their  late  victory,  and  the  fearful 
struufii'le  continued  until  the  rock  was  red  aiul 
slippery  with  human  gore.  After  losing  many 
of  their  bravest  warriors,  the  attacking  forces 
abandoned  the  assault  and  retired  h'om  the  bloody 
scene. 

Connected  with  this  bloody  battle  on  Starved 
Rock  is  a  romantic  story,  which  was  current  at 
the  time  anu.)ng  the  French  and  half-breeds  at 
Peoria,  and  is  now  told  by  their  descendants.  A 
young  warrior,  named  Belix,  a  hnlf-brecd,  who 
had  distinguished  himself  in  previous  battles,  and 
therefore  wore  on  his   breast  a  badije  of  honor. 


160      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF   ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


Ill 


This  young  brave  liaving  wooed  and  won  a  heau- 
titul  maiden,  a  daughter  of  the  head  chief,  Kine- 
boo,  and  the  time  had  arrived  to  celebrate  tlie 
marriage  rites.  But  in  the  midst  of  the  marriage 
festival,  and  before  tlie  bride  was  given  away,  the 


ali 


)f 


irm    01  an  approacinng   enemy  was  given,  as 


previously  stated.  When  the  allied  forces  as- 
saulted the  fugitives  on  Starved  Rock,  foremost 
among  the  wai'riorsin  repelling  the  assailants,  was 
Belix,  and  with  his  war-club  cleaved  the  skulls  of 
many  of  the  enemy.  During  the  fight  his  fancied 
l;ri(le  stood  nearby  witnessing  tlie  bloody  strife, 
but  when  ishe  saw  her  lover's  skull  split  open  by  a 
tomahawk,  with  a  wild  scream  slie  sprang  from  the 
rock  down  the  fearful  precipice,  her  body  falling 
from   crair  to   crair,  until  it   landed    lifeless   and 


bleed  i 


tl 


1112'  in  tlie  river 


bel 


ow. 


THE  bp:siegers  and  besieged. 

On  a  high,  rocky  cliff  south  of  Starved  Rock, 
and  known  as  Devil's  Nose,  the  allied  forces 
erected  a  temporary  fortiiication.  During  the 
night  they  collected  small  timbers  and  evergreen 
brush,  with  which  they  erected  a  breastwork. 
From  this  breastwork  they  fired  on  the  besieged, 
killing  some  and  wounding  others,  among  the 
latter  was  Kineboo,  the  head  chief  of  the   tribe. 


THE  BESIEGERS  AND  BESIEGED. 


161 


Tlio  fortifications  protectiiitj^  the  soatli  part  of 
Starved  Rock,  liad  talleii  into  decay,  fifty-one 
years  having  elap?ied  since  tlie  Frencli  aliandoned 
Fort  St.  Louis.  The  palisades  had  rotted  oft,  and 
the  earthworks  mouldered  away  to  one-half  their 
oriii;inal  hight,  conse([nently  they  afiorded  hut  little 
protection.  To  remedy  the  defect  on  this  side  of 
the  old  fortress,  the  besieged  cut  down  some  of 
the  stunted  cedars  that  crowded  the  summit  (»f 
the  rock,  with  which  they  erected  barricades  along 
the  embankment  to  shield  themselves  from  the 
arrows  and  rifle  balls  of  the  enemy. 

The  besieged  were  now  protected  from  the 
missiles  of  their  assailants,  but  another  enemy 
equall}^  dreaded — that  of  hunger  and  thirst — be- 
gan to  alarm  tliem.  When  they  took  refuuce  here 
on  the  rock,  they  carried  with  them  a  quantity  of 
provisions,  but  this  supply  was  now  exhausted 
and  starvation  stared  them  in  the  face.  At 
first  this  rock  was  thought  to  be  a  haven  of 
safety,  but  now  it  was  likely  to  l)e  their  tomb, 
and  without  a  murmur  brave  warriors  made 
preparations  to  meet  their  fate.     Day  after  day 


1 


passed  away,  mornings  and  even 
went,  and  still  the  Illinoians  co 
closely  guarded  by  the  encjny,  ler 
opportunity  to  escapi*  from  their  i 
Famisliini;  with  thirst   caused  t 


ings  came  and 

ntinued    to    be 

iving   them  no 

rocky  ])rison. 

hem  to  cut   up 

i 
\ 

; 

! 

I 'I 


", 

- 

1 

! 

P 

1 

1       ! 

162       FRKNCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS   KIVEB. 

Boiiie  of  tlieir  buckskin  clothing,  out  of  which 
tliey  made  cords  to  dnxw  water  out  of  the  river, 
but  tlie  besiegers  had  placed  a  guard  at  the  base 
of  the  rock,  and  as  soon  as  the  vessel  reached  the 
water  they  would  cut  the  cord,  or  by  giving  it  a 
quick  jerk  the  water  drawer  would  be  drawn  over 
the  })recii)ice,  and  liis  body  lull  lifeless  into  the 
river. 

As  days  passed  away,  the  besieged  sat  on  the 
rock,  gazing  on  the  great  meadow  below,  over 
wliich  they  liad  oftimes  roamed  at  pleasure,  and 
they  sighed  lor  freedom  once  more.  The  site  of 
their  town  was  in  plain  view,  but  instead  of 
lodges  and  camping  tents,  with  people  passing  to 
and  iro,  as  in  former  days,  it  was  now  a  lonely, 
dismal  waste,  blackened  by  fire  and  covered  with 
the  swollen  and  ghastly  remains  of  the  slain. 
Buzzards  were  liovering  around,  flying  back  and 
forth  over  the  desolated  town,  and  feasting  on  the 
tlead  bodies  of  their  friends. 

At  night  they  looked  upon  the  silent  stars  to- 
ward the  spirit  land,  and  in  their  wild  imagination 
saw  angels  waiting  to  receive  them.  While  slecj*- 
ing  they  dreamed  of  roaming  over  woods 
prairie  in  pursuit  of  game,  or  cantering  i  ir 
ponies  across  the  plains,  but  on  awakening  it  waM 
found  all  a  delusion.  Their  sleep  was  disturbed 
by  the  moans  and    sighs  of  the   suffering,   and 


' 


THE  BESIEOERfl  AND  BESIEOED. 


irt.s 


wlieii  iiioriiiiiti  cjuiio  it  was  Imt  tlio  liiirl)iii<rL'r  ol 
unotliur  (lay  of  torture.  From  tlicir  rocky  j.risoii 
thuy  could  sec  the  ri|>e  eorn  in  their  iichls,  <'iii<l 
on  the  distant  prairie  a  herd  of  hulTalo  were  «;raz- 
iii<jj,  but  while  in  si<;!it  of  ])lenty  they  were  funi- 
jyhin^^  for  food.  Below  them,  at  the  base  of  the 
roek,  flowed  the  river,  and  as  its  ri}>pling  waters 
^'lided  softly  by,  it  appeared  in  mockery  to  their 
burning  thirst. 

They  had  been  twelve  days  on  the  rock,  closely 
guarded  by  the  enemy,  much  of  the  time  suffer- 
ing from  hunger  and  thirst.  Their  small  stock 
of  provision  was  long  since  exhausted,  and  early 
and  late  the  little  ones  were  heard  crying  for 
foo<l.  The  mother  would  hold' her  infant  to  her 
breast,  but  alas  the  fountain  that  supported  life' 
had  dried  up,  and  the  little  sulferer  would  turn 
its  head  away  with  a  feeble  cry.  Young  maidens, 
whose  comely  form,  sparkling  eyes  and  blooming 
cheeks  were  tluj  })ride  of  their  tribe,  became 
])a]e,  feeble  and  emaciated,  and  with  a  feeling  of 
resignation  they  looked  upward  to  their  home  in 
the  si)irit  land.  One  of  the  squaws,  the  wife  of 
a  noted  chief,  while  suffering  in  a  fit  of  delirium 
caused  by  hunger  and  thirst,  tlirew  her  infant 
from  the  summit  of  the  rock  into  the  river  below, 
and  with  a  wild,  i)iercing  scream,  followed  it. 

A  few  brave  warriors  attemped  to  esca})e  from 


T 


hi 


if  ii 


Ri 


184       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

tLoir  })ri8uii,  but  on  dot^ceTKliii^"  from  tlici  rock 
were  slain  by  the  vi<^ilaiit  muircls.  Otliers  in 
their  wild  frenzy  burled  their  toniahawks  at  the 
llends  below,  and  singing  their  death  song,  laid 
down  to  die. 

The  last  lingering  hoj^e  was  now  abandoned  ; 
hunger  and  thirst  had  done  its  dreadful  work  ; 
the  cries  of  the  youuii"  and  lanieutations  of  the 
aged  were  heard  only  in  a  whisper;  their  tongues 
swollen  and  their  lips  crisped  from  thirst  so  they 
conld  scarcel}'^  give  utterance  to  their  siiilbrings. 
Old  white  headed  chiefs,  feeble  and  euiaciated, 
being  reduced  almost  to  skeletons,  crept  away 
under  the  branches  of  everij-reens  and  bi-eathed 
their  last.  Pi'oud  yonng  warriors  prefen-ed  to  die 
ni)on  this  strange  rocky  fortress  by  starvation  and 
thirst,  rather  than  surrender  themselves  to  the 
scalping  knives  of  a  victorious  enemy.  Many 
had  died;  their  remains  were  lying  here  and 
tliere  on  the  rock,  and  the  eiiiu\  ium  caused  by 
putrefaction  greatly  annoyed  the  besiegers.  A 
few  of  the  more  hardy  warriors  for  a  time  feasted 
on  the  dead,  eating  the  llesh  and  drinking  the 
blood  of  their  comrades  as  soon  as  life  was  extinct. 

A  party  of  the  allied  forces  now  ascended  the 
rock  and  tomahawked  all  those  mIio  had  survived 
the  famine.  They  scalped  eld  and  young,  and 
left    the   remains  to  decay  on  the  rock,   where 


T 


ii»>tfgrtft  i  naai.-n&^Mrfcrti'tKirWi'^^nau 


THE  BESIEGERS  AND  BESIEGED. 


165 


T 


their   bonus    were    seen    numy    vcurB   atterwanl. 

Thus  perislicd  the  large  tribe  oflllinois  Indians, 
and  with  the  exception  of  a  sohtary  warrior,  tiiey 
became  extinct. 

Near  tlie  close  ot  the  siege  of  starved  Rock,  a 
young  warrior,  during  a  severe  storm  and  dark- 
ness of  the  nii-ht,  to(.>k  a  buckskin  cord  which 
had  been  used  for  drawing  water,  and  fastening 
it  to  the  trunk  of  a  tree  let  himself  down  into  the 
river.  Escaping  detection  by  the  guards,  he 
swam  down  the  river  and  thus  secured  hisliberty, 
being  the  only  survivor  of  this  fearful  tragedy. 
This  warrior  was  partly  white,  being  a  descend- 
ant on  his  fatlier'sside  from  the  French,  who  set- 
tled around  Fort  St.  L(juis  many  years  before. 
Being  alone  in  the  world,  without  kindred  or 
friemls,  he  went  to  Peoria,  joined  the  colony,  and 
there  ende(l  his  days.  He  end)raced  Christianity, 
bec;ime  an  otllcer  in  the  church,  and  was  chris- 
tened under  an  old  French  name.  La  Bell.  His 
descendants  are  now  living  near  Prairie  du  Rocher, 
one  of  whom,  Charles  La  Bell,  was  a  party  to  a 
suit  in  the  United  States  Court  to  recover  the 
land  where  the  city  of  Peoria  now  stands  * 

"III  the  enrly  settlement  of  the  eoimtry  there  vvn«  :m  old  In- 
dian Jiiuneil  MencheUe,  who  Ireqnenlly  vtsUed  the  tiiidlns.' posts 
at  Hcnni  pin  and  Ottawa,  and  made  various  slaleinents  atxnit 
tlie  Starved  Uoek  tragwiy.  He  said  liewasalioy  at  tlie  lime. 
aecoinpanyin^  liis  lather;  was  present  and  saw  the  deslruetiuu 


I- 


i 


166       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  UIVPJK. 


,  1 


A  GHASTLY  SPECTACLE. 

A  lew  (lays  after  the  destruction  ot'tlie  Illinois 
Indians,  a  ]>arty  of  traders  from  Peoria,  amt^ng 
whom  were  Robert  Maillet  and  P'elix  La  Panee, 
while  on  their  return  from  Canada  with  three 
canoes  loaded  with  goods,  i:top[)ed  at  the  scene  of 
the  late  trage<l}'.  As  they  a])})roac]»ed  Starved 
Kock,  which  at  that  time  was  called  Le  Roclier, 
they  noticed  a  cloud  of  buzzards  hovering  over 
it,  and  at  the  same  time  they  were  greeted  with  a 
sickening  odor.  On  landing  from  their  canoes 
and  ascending  the  rock,  they  found  tlu;  steej), 
rocky  ])athway  leading  thereto  staijicd  with  blood, 

ol  the  last  ol  the  iiliiiois  Indians.  After  mauy  days  siege,  said 
he,  a  laif^e  miinher  of  wurr'iors  descended  from  tlierordc  and 
made  au  atteinjit  to  tl^lit  tlieir  way  tln'oii<j;h  tlie  lines,  hnt  were 
all  slain  except  seven,  who  succeeded  in  escaping  down  tlie 
river  to  Peoria,  and  found  refuge  among  the  French. 

As  late  as  the  year  iszs,  a  small  l)and  of  Indians  lived  on  Lake 
l>uj)ue,  and  raised  corn  ona  little  bottom  iniiirii'.now  inekuled 
in  a  farm  owned  by  Charles  Savage.  Among  these  Indians  was 
a  very  old  man,  who  fri-nuently  acrcompanied  his  grandsKM  in  a 
canoe  to  HartzelTs  trading  house.  This  old  man  said  that  he 
was  born  on  tlio  W^ihasli,  and  was  ten  years  old  at  the  time  of 
the  Starved  liock  tragedy.  His  father  parti*  ijiated  in  this 
atrair.  and  two  of  liis  uncles  Were  killed  in  tlie  fight  witli  the 
lllinolans  before  they  took  refuge  on  Starved  Ilock.  He  said 
the  fight  contltined  for  two  days  at  the  town,  and  hundreds  of 
warriors  on  both  sides  were  slain,  but  during  a  rain  storm  and 
darliuess  v:)f  the  night,  the  remnant  of  the  lllinolans  escaped  to 
Starved  Ilock. 

Two  .vears  after  this  affair,  the  band  to  whicli  the  old  Indian 
belonged  emigrateil  to  Illinois,  and  laiilt  a  town  on  the  south 
side  of  the  river,  opposite  Ltike  Dupue.    At  that  time,  and  for 


i 


A    0EIA8TLY    SPECTACLE. 


167 


and  among  the  stunted  cedars  that  grew  on  the 
cliir  were  lodged  many  human  bodies,  }>artly  de- 
voured hv  birds  of  prev.  But  on  reacliiuLr  the 
summit  ol  Le  Roelier,  tliey  were  horriiied  to  find 
it  covered  witli  dead  bodies,  all  in  an  advaneed 
state  of  dei.-omposition.  Jlere  were  aged  chiefs, 
with  silvered  locks,  lying  by  tlic  side  of  young- 
warriors,  whose  long  raven  black  hair  partly  con- 
cealed their  ghastly  and  distorted  features.  Here, 
too,  were  sqnavvs  and  pap])ooses,  the  aged  grand- 
mother and  the  young  maiden,  with  here  and 
thei'e  an  infant,  still  elas])ed  in  its  mother's  arms. 


li 


l! 


many  years  aftorwanls,  tho  suiiitnit  of  the  rock  was  rovcrcd 
witli  t'oiics  iiiul  sliuUs.  Twd  niilfs  below  Starved  Kock,  on  tlie 
site  ot  tlie  town,  where  u  groat  battle  wan  fought,  many  acres 
of  Kronml  were  covi-i'ed  with  hiitnan  hones. 

An  old  lii(li;in  called  Shaddy,  wlio  went  west  with  his  hand 
in  l'^:5i.  but  aftiH-winls  rt-turued  to  lo;)k  once  uiore  upon  the 
scene  of  his  youth,  and  hunted  on  Bureauand  along  the  Illinois 
river  in  the  winter  of  isao.  From  this  old  Indian  I  gathered 
many  itt ms  in  relation  to  past  events.  lie  saiii  that  his  lather 
was  at  the  siege  of  Starved  Ilock,  and  all  the  Illinois  Indians 
perished  excejit  one.  This  was  a  young  half-breed,  who  let 
himself  down  Into  the  river  by  means  of  a  hu'kskin  cord,  dur- 
ing a  severe  rain  storm,  aiid  in  the  darkness  of  the  niiiht  m.'ide 
his  escape. 

According  fo  Idsbiry,  alxait  one  thousand  IllinolMus,  lait 
known  as  Kaskaskia  Indians,  were  living  in  the  south  part  of 
the  State  as  late  as  l'Mi2.  The  Indians  at  tlie  south  appear  to 
have  taken  no  part  in  the  war,  and  the  desi ruction  of  the  trU)e 
applied  only  tc  those  along  the  Illinois  river. 

It  is  said  someof  the  Illinois  tril)»  took  refuge  with  the  Krencli 
at  Pecu'la,  and  were  afterwards  known  as  Peoria  Indians. 

These  conlllcting  statements  are  given  only  for  what  I  hey  are 
worth,  and  from  which  the  reader  can  draw  hlsownconelualotis. 


i 


T 


I  m 


"I 


iii 


m 
III 

I  r 


168      FRENCH  AND   INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVEK. 

Some  luul  died  from  tliirst  and  starvation,  otlieri? 
l)j  tlie  tomaliawk  or  war-club  ;  of  the  latter  a 
])ool  of  clotted  blood  was  seen  at  their  side.  All 
tlie  dead,  without  regard  to  age  or  sex,  had  been 
scalped,  and  their  remains,  divested  of  clothing, 
were  lying  here  and  there  on  the  rock.  These 
swollen  and  distorted  remains  were  hideous  to 
lock  upon,  and  the  stench  from  them  so  offensive 
that  the  traders  hastened  down  from  the  rock 
and  continued  on  their  way  down  tlie  river. 

On  reaching  La  Yantum,  a  short  distance  below 
Le  Rocher,  the  traders  met  with  a  still  greater 
sur})rise,  and  for  a  time  were  almost  ready  to  be- 
lieve what  tliev  saw  was  all  dehision  instead  of  a 
reality.  The  great  town  of  the  west  had  disap- 
peared ;  not  a  lodge,  camping  tent,  nor  one  human 
being  could  be  seen  ;  all  was  desolate,  silent  and 
lonely.  The  ground  where  the  town  had  stood 
was  strewn  with  dead  bodies,  and  a  ])ack  of  hun- 
gry wolves  were  feeding  upon  their  hideous 
re])ast. 

Five  months  betore,  these  traders,  wliili^  on 
their  way  to  Canada,  stopped  at  La  Vantum  for 
a  number  of  days  in  or  ler  to  trade  with  the  In 
dians.  At  that  time  the  iidiabitants  of  the  town 
— about  five  thousand  in  number — were  in  full 
enjoyment  of  life,  l)ut  now  their  dead  bodies  lay 
mouldering  on  the  ground,   food    lor  wolves  and 


? 


T 


RELICS  OF  TIIK  TRAGEDY. 


169 


i 


biiz/urds.  Mnillct  and  La  Paiico  liad  Imii'dit  of 
these  peo})le  two  c'aiu»c  loaiLs  of  furs  and  pelts, 
which  were  to  be  })aid  in  goods  on  their  return 
from  Canada.  Tlie  goods  were  now  here  to  make 
payment,  according  to  contract,  but  alas  the  cred- 
itors had  all  i^<jne  to  their  lonir  home. 

TJie  smell  from  hundreds  of  [>utrilied  and  partly 
consume<]  remains,  was  so  offensive  that  the 
traders  remained  only  a  short  time,  and  with 
sadness  tliey  turned  aw;iy  from  this  scene  of  hor- 
ror. Again  hoarding  tlieir  canoes  they  ])assed 
down  tlie  river  to  Peoria,  conveying  thither  to 
their  fi'iends  the  sad  tidini'-s. 

RELICS  OP  THE  TRAGEDY. 

On  tlie  following  s})i-ing,  after  the  annihilation 
<)(  the  Illiiioians  Indians,  a  party  of  traders  from 
Cahokia,  in  canoes  loaded  with  furs,  visited  Can- 
ada, making  thither  their  annual  trip  in  accord- 
ance with  their  former  custom.  On  reaching 
Peoria  they  heard  of  the  desti'uction  of  the  Illi- 
nois Indians  on  Starved  Rock,  and  were  afraid  to 
])roceod  further  on  their  journey,  iu»t  knowing 
but  the  victors  were  still  in  the  country,  and  they, 
too,  would  meet  with  :i  like  fate.  Atter  remain- 
ing a  tow  days  at  Peorii,  they  proceeded  on  their 
way,  accompanied  (as  far  as  Starved    Rock)  by 


t\\ 


il 


•t 


170        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


4 


i 


Bi 


hi 


tAvonty  armed  Freiicliiiion  and  ahout  thirty  Tii- 
diiui.  With  tliis  escort  was  Father  Jac(|uesBiichc, 
a  Jesuit  priest  ot  Peoria,  and  some  account  of  his 
observations  are  preserved  in  his  niauscript* 

When  the  voyageurs  arrived  atLaVantum,  they 
found  the  town  site  strewn  with  liumaii  bones. 
These,  with  a  lew  charred  poles,  alone  marked 
the  location  of  the  fbrnner  <i;reat  town  of  tlie  west. 
Scattered  over  tlie  prairie  were  hundreds  of  skulls. 
Sonne  of  these  retained  a  portion  of  tlesliand  were 
])artly  covered  with  lonij;'  black  hair,  giving  to  the 
remains  a  ghastly  and  sickening  ap[>earance. 

This  party  also  ascended  Le  liocher,  and  found 
its  summit  covered  with  bones  and  skulls.  Among 
these  were  found  knives,  tomahawks,  rings, 
beads  and  varioug  triidvcts,  some  of  which  the 
travelers  carried  with  them  to  Canada,  and  now 
can  be  seen  among  the  anti(piarian  collection  at 
Quebec. 

Various  accounts  are  given,  both  by  Frencli 
and  Indians,  of  seeing  in  after  years  relics  of  this 
tragical  affair  on  the  summit  of  Starved  Eock. 
Bulbona,  a  French  Indian  trader,  who  was  known 
by  many  of  the  early  settlers,  said  when  a 
small  boy  he  accompanied  his  father  in  ascending 
Starved    Rock,    and     there    saw    many     relics 

*An  account  of  this  manuscript  wiU  be  found  In  tl)e  succeed- 
ing chapter,  and  from  which  ninuy  extracts  are  token. 


i       t 


""♦r 


J 


J 


RELICS  OF  THE  TEAGEDY. 


171 


of  this  fearful  tra<^^edv.  Tliis  was  only  fifteen 
years  after  the  massacre  of  the  Illinois  Indians, 
and  the  rock  was  covered  with  sknlls  and  bones, 
all  in  a  good  state  of  pi-eservation,  bnt  bleached 
white  by  rain  and  snn. 

On  my  first  visit  to  Starved  Kock,  nearly  forty 
years  aii^o,  I  fonnd  a  number  of  human  teeth  and 
small  fra«,mients  of  bones.  Others  have  found 
relics  of  the  past,  such  as  beads,  rings,  knives,  &c. 

About  thirty -five  years  ago  a  human  skull, 
})artly  decayed,  was  found  Jit  the  root  of  a  cedar 
tree,  buried  up  witli  leaves  and  dirt.  A  rusty 
tomahawk  and  a  large  scalping  knife,  with  other 
articles,  also  human  bones,  wei'e  taken  out  of  a 
pit  hole,  a  few  years  ago.  The  early  settlei's 
have  found  many  things  on  the  summit  of  Starved 
R(K!k,  and  still  retain  them  in  their  possession  as 
relics  of  the  i)a8t. 


i' 


l! 


f 
i 
•> 

s 

1 
I 

^  i 

;                . 

■•  f       ; 

I 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  OLD  FOliT. 

In  tlie  river  tirnhei",  about  one-lialf  mile  south- 
east of  Starved  Rock,  and  on  land  belouii-iuii:  to 
Mrs.  Gahet,  is  still  to  he  seen  the  remains  of  an 
ancient   foj-tification.     This  work   of  antinuitv  is 

1  o 

located  on  a  level  piece  of  ground,  at  the  inter- 
section of  two  ravines,  and  consists  of  low,  ii-j'cgu- 
lar  eai'thworks.  These  earthworks  follow  the 
course  of  the  ravines  on  two  sides,  forming  zig- 
zag lines,  with  an  open  gateway  at  the  east,  front- 
ing the  prairie.  I'hese  lines  enclose  altout  one 
acre  of  ground,  ol  an  oblong  shape,  and  is  now 
cov^ered  with  lai-ge  trees.  This  old  relic  appears 
to  have  been  only  a  temporary  fortification,  con- 
sisting of  a  ditch,  an  embankment,  and  j)erhaps 
palisades.  At  what  time  this  fortification  was 
erected,  by  whom  and  for  what  purpose,  will 
])robably  remain  a  mystery. 

There  are  various  opini;;ns  about  these  old 
eartliworks.     Some  belie\'e  they  were  erected  by 


J 


i 


I 


THE  OLD  FORT. 


173 


J 


/ 


the  French  while  in  possession  of  Fort  St.  Louis, 
and  intended  as  a  snimner  fort  to  j)rotcc't  them- 
selves from  the  Indians  while  raisini-- a  crop  on 
the  adjoining  prairie.  But  this  is  not  probable,  as 
the  prairie  nearby,  in  tlie  early  settlement  of  the 
country,  showed  no  marks  of  ever  having  been 
cultivated;  and  protection  from  the  Indians  was 
unnecessary,  as  they  always  lived  on  friendly 
terms  with  them.  It  could  not  have  been  the 
work  of  the  French,  for  it  shows  no  signs  of  civil 
engineering,  and  neither  history  nor  tradition 
give  any  account  of  it. 

A  i'ew  years  ago  a  large  burr  oak  was  cut  within 
the  fortification,  and  near  the  heart  of  it  was 
found  imljedded  a  riile  ball,  which,  according  to 
the  growths,  must  have  been  put  there  more  "ban 
a  centuiy  ago.  There  are  a  number  of  huge 
trees  growing  on  the  endjaidunent  and  in  the 
ditch,  on  various  parts  of  the  fortification,  which 
is  evidence  of  its  great  antiquity.  This  old  relic 
is,  without  doubt,  a  workof  the  Mound  Builders, 
as  similar  remains  are  found  elsewhere. 

About  two  hundred  yards  northeast  of  this  (.Id 
fort,  by  the  side  of  a  small  ravine,  a  coal  bank 
was  recently  opened  by  James  Bain,  but  on  ac- 
count of  the  thinners  of  the  vein  it  was  f(,und 
uni.rofitable  to  woi'k.  This  vein  oi  coal  is  close 
to  the  surface,  only  a  few  feet  under  ground,  and 


Ml 


174      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

near  the  place  where  it  was  opened  is  a  lar^^-e 
cavity  in  the  earth.  On  exaniininp^  this  eavity 
or  excavation,  it  was  found  tliat  the  coal  liad 
been  taken  (»iit,  and  tlie  enhankinent  on  eitlier 
side,  caused  by  throwini;-  out  the  dirt,  are  now 
cov^ered  witli  trees.  This  Work  must  liave  Ix^en 
done  centuries  a<^o,  and  some  believe  by  the  occu- 
pants oi'  the  fort  above  described. 


RELICS  OF  ANTIQUITY. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Starved  Rock  many  relics  of 
the  early  F'rcnch  explorers  have  been  found,  con- 
sistirii"- of  fai'uiing  implements  of  Euro]>ean  man- 
ufacture, rille  and  cannon  l)alls,  <^-old  and  silver 
crosses,  two  bronze  medallion  heads,  one  ol  Louis 
XIV,  and  the  other  Poi>e  Leo  X. 

A  few  years  a^o  a  small  cannon  was  found 
near  Ottawa,  imbedded  m  the  river  bank,  where, 
in  all  })robability,  it  had  remained  a  century  or 
more.  This  cannon  is  constructed  of  wrought 
iron,  hooped  with  heavy  rings  to  t>ive  it  strength, 
like  those  used  in  Europe  three  hundred  years 
ago.  This  ancient  piece  of  ordnance,  in  all  prol)- 
ability,  was  brought  from  Canada  in  a  canoe  by 
La  Salle,  or  some  of  his  men,  to  be  used  on  a 
fortification.  It  mav  have  been  the  first  one 
mounted  on  the  ramparts  of  Fort  St.  Louis,  and 


KELIOS  OF  ANTIQUITY. 


175 


iit  the  time  of  its  dedication  fired  a  salute  in  honor 
of  tiie  kiii<r  of  France. 

A  sliort  time  a«,^o  an  old  cedar  tree  was  cut  on 
the  summit  of  Starved  Unck,and  within  its  truidc 
was  found  iml)edded  a  g-und)arrel,  partly  destroyed 
I'.y  rust.     How  this  gi-.n-harrel  r-anio  here  will  f(jr- 
over  remain   a  mystery,  hut  in  all    i>robahilitv  it 
was  the  work  of  an  ingenious  Frenchman  <lurin- 
the    occupation    of  Fort  -  St.  Louis.     Tiiis    -11,?- 
harrel,    with   a    portion    of  the  tree    which  '^sur- 
rouTuled  it,  are  ju-eserved  aniono-  the   collections 
«'f  relics  in  OttaAva. 

^  A  few  months  a-o,  David  Walker  found  near 
niilTalo  Kock  a  piece  of  copper,  al.out  \\h-  si/.i- 
.•iiid  shape  of  a  half  dollar,  ^'liis  curious  rcli(;  is 
Carved  with  i-udo  characters,  amon-  which  can  Ik; 
traced  the  name  of  Tonti.  It  is  quite  prohal.h; 
this  is  one;  (,f  the  medals  which  the  commander 
<'f  ^^•rtSt.  L(Miis  distributed  aniouw.  hi..  liuUuu 
friends,  of  which  M'e  have  an  account. 

While  dig-ino-  a  cellar  for  a,  house,  near  the 
base  of  Starve<l  lioek,  a  slu.rt  tinu>  ago.  a  human 
skull  was  found,  in  which  was  a  large  sized  Hint 
arrow  head.  On  one  side  oi'  the  forehea.l  of  this 
skull  is  a  hole  where  the  missile  of  death  had  en- 
[-«'>'ed.  This  skull,  arrow  head,  Tonti'.s  nu'dal,  an 
iron  Indian  ux,  <.n  which  is  fluMianu^  of  Standish, 
with  a  large  collection  of  other  Indian  relics,  an;' 


11 


17r>       FRENCH  AND  INDIAN8  OP  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

now  111  the  j)os8Cssion  of  David  Wulkur  ofOttawa. 

Near  Starved  Roek,  on  botli  sides  of  tlie  river, 
many  Indian  relics  liave  been  found,  consisting 
of  gnu  flints  arrow  beads,  eartbeii  pots  and  ket- 
tles, with  tomahawks,  knives,  hoes,  kc,  made  (»1" 
stone.  Many  of  these  relies  have  been  collected 
by  people  living  in  that  locality,  and  will  be  pre- 
served in  "The  Ottawa  Academy  of  Natural 
Science."  • 

On  the  north  side  of  the  river,  a  short  distance 
}d>ove  Starved  Rock,  and  on  the  bottom  prairie, 
Mi'c  three  sul[>hiir  sprini;'s.  One  of  these  springs 
is  very  large,  boiling  up  among  ihe  white  sand, 
and  throwing  out  a  large  volume  of  clear 
water  strongly  impregnated  with  saline  matter. 
In  former  times  Indians  from  diilerent  parts 
«)f  the  country,  alllicted  with  maladies,  came  here; 
tor  medical  treatment,  which  to  some  extent  ac- 
counts for  the  great  amount  of  relics  found  in  this 
vicinity.* 

LOUISIANA  COLONY. 

This  colony  as  has  been  jU'cviously  stated,  was 
founded  by  La  Salle,  at  Fort  St.  Louis,  in  the  year 


*In  the  year  IHr.:',  a  larKPntono house,  called  IheHulphurSpriTiK 
Hotel,  was  hiillt  hero  with  the  expeetation  of  luakiiifj;  lliisji 
ti;ri'!il  walei'iiiti  place,  hut  Ihe  enterprise' ^was  n  lailnre.  Nol- 
wUhsttintiiii^i;  the  extensive  advertising  hy  those  interested, 
iiey  did  not  sueceed  in  making  ita  Saratoga  nor  a  llonihurg. 


LOUISIANA  COLONY. 


177 


1082,  n?i(l(>r  a  cliarttT  from  tho   kiiirr  of  F'rancc, 
iiri.l  was  called  Loiii.siaiia  in  Ikukm-  (»f  LiMiis  XIV. 
Tli(M'()l(,ny  existed    Ix-re  iiniil    ITlS,  a  |M'!i(.d   of 
tliirty-Hix  yea r8,  hut  liad  it  coiitiimed  perjiianently 
La  Salle  eomity  would  have  heen  the  oldest  settleil 
place  it)   the   west.     One  year  after  this  colony 
was    estahlishcd,  La    Salle  gave    Ilichard    n(,sley 
a  permit  to   trade   with  tlie   Indians  at  Oahokia, 
where  Father  Allonez  had  previously  esfahlisluMl 
a  mission.     P]rnii;rants  from  Canada  came  to  Ca- 
hokia,inany  of  whom  hecame  permanent  residents, 
and   from   that  time  people  continued  to   reside 
h(!re,  therefore  it    n<Av    claims  to   he  tlie  oldest 
Bettlement  in  the  Mississippi  valley.     The  French 
erected  liouses  in  the  town  with  the  Vidians,  an.l 
all    lived    together   in   harmony.      Marriaircs    \n\- 
tween  the  French  and  Indians  were   len-alized  hv 
the  Catholic cluirch,  and  many  of  tlie  traders  found 
wives  anion o-  the  hlooming  daughters  of  Illinois. 
Some  of  the   present  inhahitants  of  Oahokia  can 
trace  their  genealogy  hack  to  the  time  of  La  Salle, 
their  ancestors  having   intermarried   with  the  na- 
tives, so  that  in   many  families  the  Indian  blood 
I)re(h)minates. 

A  French  settlemeiit  was  soon  after  made  at 
Kaskaskia,  and  a  few  years  later  a  colony  was 
plante<l  on  the  lower  Mississij)pi.  T]\v,  whole 
country  took  the  name  of  Louisiana,  d(!si.rnatin«i- 


■  T 


wmmm 


i    I  ! 


1 

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1 

I 

i 

1 

',1 

1 

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1 

S             : 

^i 


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178      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS   OF    ILLINOIS  RiVER. 

the  iiortli  ,111(1  south    ]);irt  hy    Illinois  and  Missis- 
si[)j>i. 

The  king  of  PVance  gave  Grozat  ,a  ]>atciit  for 
all  the  L(;uisiana  country,  over  whi(;h  lie  was  to 
have  control  tor  twenty  years,  for  tiu;  ])urpoHe  of 
niiniiig  and  Irading  with  the  Indians.  This  patent 
hears  dale  Septeniher  14,  1711,  and  was  ratified 
hy  the  colonists  of  Kaskaskia,  Oahokia  and  P'ort 
St.  Louis.  ColoiK!!  La  Mott,  un  ;igent  of  Crozat, 
took-  possession  ot  the  ('(»untry,  assuming  the  title 
(»r  (iovernor,  and  made  Kaskaskia  the  capital. 
I'lie  Indians  showed  the  new  guvernor  two  piev  es 
(A  'X\\\vv  (»re.  wliich  they  said  \V('re  tak(;n  out  of 
Illinois  miiK.-,  hiil  in  fact  canu'  fr(»m  Mexico, 
Thiiddnu  oidy  of  making  a  ixrvi\,\  fortune,  the 
go\('rnor  employed  a  comj)any  of  miners,  and 
went  noidi  in  seai'ch  of  tlu' precious  metal.  Lead 
and  copper  in  gn  at  ahundance  were  i'ound,  hut 
no  silver  nor  :iold.  Att(M'  prospecting  (or  two 
years,  and  expending  large  sums  ot  money  in 
searching  f<>r  the  precious  metal,  without  meeting 
with  succN^^s,  the  scheme  was  ahandoned. 

(yi'i-zat,  after   five  years  experimice  in    mining 

and   tiading  with  the  Lidians,  toiind  it  nnprolita- 

hle,  so  lie  suri'endcred  his  patent    to  the    Krcncli 

(/oiirt,  and  (loveri.Mr  La  Mott,  with  many  «>f  the 

miners,  MMurned  to  France. 

On  the  year  following  tlie  snrr(!n<ler  of  ('n»zat'h 


I 

! 

i 


THE  BUFFALO. 


179 


pHtoril,  ;(  siniilar  (»)ic  wus  fronted  to  r;c(,r:r('  Law, 
a  Scr.tcl)  haiikfi' ol"  Paris,  and  l.y  his  ordci.;  Fort 
(JljartiTs,  <.«n  the  Mississip]*],  was  ])uilt. 

J.'i  the  .spriiii:-  of  17;^6  I).  x\r(|iiette  (•(.niiiiaii(ler 
in    lih'iK.Js,  and  C!i])tain    ViiieeniieB,  of  a  tradinu' 
i".s!  on  the  Wahasli,  (whieh  still  hears  his  name), 
with  ;di<)iit  one-  hundred,  Freneli  soldier^  aiul  rnanv 
ln(h;iM    alh\!s,  went  !o    h)W(;r    Louisiana  to   a.ssist 
(iov(M-n(»r  RieneviUe  in  proseeutin:;  a  war  against 
the  Chieka^aws.     Tiiis   expedition    provcMl  a  i'aih 
lire,  and  tlie  two  cotnnianders  and  Fath.-r   Seiiae, 
witli  many  of  tlie  soldiers,  were   taken    pri.-...n(iv 
.'ind  hurned  at  the   stal;e.      While   the    flames  e,!- 
voloped    tlioir    l^odies,    Father  Senae,    amid    the 
blazino-  tagi^rots,  exliorte<l  his    comj.anion.-  to   die 
as   heeonie  Frenehmen  and  Christians,  and  while 
raeked  with  torture  he  administered   to  his  dviiiL;- 
euuntrymen  the  last  rites  of  the  Cath.-lie  ehiirch. 
Tlie  colony  in  Illinois  continued   under  French 
rule  until  1765,   when  it  hecaiiie  subject  to  Great 
Britain,  and  afterwards  t(.  the  United  States. 


THP:  BUFFALO. 


The  !lesh  of  the  huiralo  furniJied  the  Indians 
with  f(M;d.  their  skinc>  with  clotl.iiio-,  l.eddinn;  and 
tents;  their  sinews  for  hows,  the  hones  and  horn,- 
for  orranuints  ;  conse(jueiitly,  when  these  aiunials 


i;!i 


ii 


I  !  I  ;  t     ■  ' 

^1 ;  s 


I  ( 


180        FliKNOH    AND  INDIANS  OF  lLI-INi)18  ItlVKIi. 

lull  tlio   coiiiiliT,  tin.'    wil'l  savM,^:(.'s    ol"   the    west 

wci'O  <le])ri\'(jtl  ol  niaiiy  of  the  C(»iiif()rts  of  life'. 

According  t(»  tlie  stateiiiont  of  tliu  cai'ly  Fi'ciicli 

o.\|»Ioroi's,    and  al.-o  conlii'nu-d   by    Indian    Iradi- 

ti(tn>,  till!  counlry  wcbt  ol"  tlnj  i,n'(;at  bend  in   tli< 

Illinois   river,  was   the   jj,rca{    hiillalo   rani^e,  and 
]icr(!  lliei)'    l)on('s  wore    tbiiml  in  lari;'e   quantities 

in  iIk!  early  seltlenicnt  of  the  country. 

At  what  time  the  IjuIVuIo  left  thi;  country  is 
not  known,  hut  in  c()nipai'iiig  the;  various  state- 
rneids  ol'  traders  and  Indians,  it  must  havo  been 
between  1780  and  TH>0.  In  tlioyear  1778,  An- 
tonine  I)es  Chnmps,  then  a  lad  of  eight  years  ol" 
age,  came  with  his  j)arents  from  Canada  to  Peo- 
ria, and  lived  there  until  the  town  was  dot  royed, 
thii'ty-lour  years  afterwards.  Des  Cham[)S  s;iid, 
for  some  years  after  he  came  to  Peoria,  bull'alo 
\verc  ]>lenty,  an<l  lie  had  frcfjuently  seen  Urge 
herds  of  tlieni  swimming  the  Illinois  i-ivei'.  i're- 
viou.-  to  I7')()  the  French  had  an  extensive  trade 
in  buiValo  robes,  but  after  tliat  period  there  were 
non(3  shij>{»ed  from  tlu?  Illinois  river. 

In  th«;  #!arly  seltlenicnt  of  the  countiw,  old  In- 
dians were  living  here  wlio  said  in  theii- youihl'ul 
days  they  lia-^l  seen  large  Iierds  of  buiValo  on  the 
]trairies,  but  they  all  perished  in  a  big  .-now, 
which  covere«l  tlie  grouiul  many  feet  in  dei)th, 
and  crusted   over  so  a  person   could    walk  on  it. 


i 


\ 


PAT   KENNEDY  S    JOURNAL. 


ISl 


i: 


Ncvr  mtriiH'- a  few  l)iiiral(>,  ixxn'  and  lia-u'anl  in 
appearance,  were  seen  going  wcstwani,  and  a.- 
tliey  apiu-oached  the  carcasses  of  tlu'  <l(':i(l  l.ulValo, 
wliicb  were  lying- on  tlie  prairie  in  great  niinihcrs, 
tliey  would  >top,  c(.ninience  pawing  and  lowing, 
aiui  then  start  o IT  agniti  on  a  lope  lor  the  west, 
and  tVoni  that  tinu'  hudalo  were  seldom  seen 
east  of  the  Missis>ip])i  river. 

Although  the  hutValo  had  left  the  country,  as 
ahove  .-^rated,  a  few  otray  ones  were  ()cca.^i«uudly 
seen  here  in  after  years,  and  as  late  as  1815,  the 
Indians  attacke.l  a  herd  between  the  Illinois 
an<l  Green  rivers,  killing  two  of  them. 

Forty  year:-<  ago  hufValo  hones  were  pirnty  on 
the  prairies;  and  in  tliree  diiferent  places  in 
liureau  county  many  acres  of  ground  wereccvercul 
with  tliem,  showing  where  large  herds  had  i>er- 
ished,  Skulls  of  bulfah.,  with  h.orns  still  on  them, 
were  fre.piently  found  hen;,  and  their  trails  lead- 
ing to  an<l  from  watering  places  wi-re  plain  to  be 
seen,  in  the  oarly  settlement  of  the  country.* 

PAT  Kennedy's  .iouknal. 

Tlirough  the   politeness  of  Lyman   C.  Draper, 

Secretary  of  the   Wisconsin    Historical    S(»clcty, 

an. I  author  ol'  a  number  of  hi>-torical  collection.-,  I 

have  been  funii>he(l  with   a    manuscript   .-opy  ot 

*Renili(i8cence8of  liunuiu  County, 


J1 

hi 


i 

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^f 

jf 

ill 

#:m 


'  [| 


ii 


it 


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i. 

1    1 

i 

. 

182       FliKNOn    AN  I>  INIHANK  UK  ILI.INOIH  KIVKll. 

■fc' 

Patrick  lvL'iino(ly\s  j(»iiriial,  n['  hi.--  ti-avcls  up  tlic 
Illinois  river,  and  trimi  wliich  the  iolluwiiii;' items 
are  gathered : 

On  tlie  23,  of  July,  1773,  Kennedy,  witli  a 
party  of  adventurers,  left  Ka.sl^askia  in  a  keei- 
hoat,  and  ascended  the  river  in  search  (if  c<)])per 
tuines.  On  ai'rivini;,'  at  the  foot  of  the  I'apids 
they  left  their  hoat  and  |)roeeeded  up  the  rivei'on 
foot,  foi'ty-five  miles.  Ilcire  on  an  island  they 
lonnd  encamped  a  ])arty  of  French  traders,  but 
failinu'  to  ohtain  any  information  of  tlicni  in  re- 
latii>n  to  th(!  cop[»er  mines,  they  ahaiidoiied  tlie 
seai'ch  and  returned  to  Ktiskaskia. 

Kenned\'s  journal  s{)caks  of  seeing-  large  herds 
of  hulbdo,  elk  and  dee)',  feedini;'  (»n  the  hii;' 
meadow  on  both  sides  of  the  ri\er.  It  alsog'ives 
an  account  of  a  saline  spring  and  lake,  where  the 
Freiu'h  and  Iiulians  were  eng-aged  in  making  salt. 
It  rei'crs  to  a  clilf  of  rocks  iu)t  far  from  the  mouth 
of  Fox  river,  where  the  French  obtained  their  mill- 
stones. 

This  journal  gives  a  geogi-ajthical  dcserij)lion 
ol  (he  country — size  and  names  of  I'ivers,  and  a 
geiu!ral  acconid  of  the"IIIiiu»is  region,  biil  throws 
no  light  on  the  history  cd  the  l^'reiicli  sctthsments. 
It  refers  to  the  town  and  tort  at  Peoj-ia  Lake,  but 
says  nothing  ot*  the  size  of  the  place,  ol  its  inhab- 
itants or  general  appearance. 


MANITS(MIII'T  OF  FATITEIi   HIOFIK. 


188 


Till.-  old  iDiiiiUrcript  it-  imw  in  the  liaiuls  of 
II  yjH)!Jti,'  Pilctlc,  \vli(t  lives  on  the  Amrricaii 
I)(itt(>iii,  l»('tv\-t'c'ii  (Jaliokia  ami  i'l-ainc  dii  Roclicr. 
Il  (M)nsit;ls  of  Iwciity-tlirce  pa^cs,  closclv  writlcii, 
on  iarii'c  sheets,  and  (rorn  ULrc  the  ])a]K'r  is  vellow 
aiid  ink  iadcl.  This  nianiiecrijtt  is  in  the  Piviich 
lan-'iia^v.  <iatc<l  \^a  Villc  de,  Maillct  (now  I'coria), 
A.  D.  1770,  ;ind  was  written  Ity  Jacques  I)U(die,  a 
Catliolie  priest. 

'^Phc  wi'iter  spealcs  oidy  "1*  lliiiiiis  that  eauic 
under  liis  own  o1)r.ervnti*»n,  and  relates  n;any 
I'emarkahle  incidents  which  are  worth  jti'cserv- 
inj*'.  Some  (»!"  these  statements  dillei- .{i'(»ni  the 
tra.ditntns  oi'  others,  hut  ne\  ei'tlijgi-ess  are  iiot 
im]»rol)al)le,  as  they  cai'ry  with  theni  an  air  of 
truth, 

Fatlier  IJuehe's  manu8ci'i}>t  hji-ms  a  connectiii^n' 
link  of  histoiw  hetween  tlie  time  of  La  Salle  and 
the  destruction  of  Peoria,  and  from  its  ])ages 
immy  (<f  the  incideiitB  narrate<l  in  tins  hook  have 
heen  taken.  It  s])eaks  of  tlie  dei^tructiou  of  La 
Vantuni,  jind  the  perishin;^'  of  the  remnant  (»f  the 
Illinois  Lnlians  on  Starved  Uock. 

It  .also  ij,ivos  an  accttunt  of  <ligginii'  for  gold 
within  the  stockades  of  Fort  St.  Loui^,  the  ]>it- 
liole^  of  w  inch  are  now  j^laln  to  he  seen. 

Father  Duclie  speaks  of  \isiting  an  Indian  village, 
iifteen  leagues  north  of  Peoria,  where  he  reniaiiied 


m 


I 
I 


T 


i84       FliKNOH  AND  INDIANR  (»F    ILLINOIS  KIVER. 

many  day,  teacliiii^-  the  jteojtle  the  wuyis  of  Clirist 
iaiiity.  Tho  iiihahitaiits  of  this  village,  wiid  he, 
were  possessed  of  the  devil,  iiidrd_L':in<;'  in  vile 
practices  and  idolatrous  worshi}).  The  chiefs  had 
niaiiv  wives,  and  put  tlieni  to  death  if  the  v  pro\(Ml 
1)aJTeii.  At  their  religious  feast,  which  took  place 
once  a  year,  an  infa,  r>f  .some  noted  chief  was 
liui'ned  on  the  altar  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  i:;reat 
Manito.  This  was  <h>ne  in  order  that  the  hand 
niiii'lit  he  successful  in  war,  hunting  and  fishing', 
.and  also  to  })rotect  tlieni  from  the  power  of  tlie 
evil  one. 

Fatlier  Buche  said  he  preached  many  times  to 
these  beiiiglited  people,  and  the  chiefs  and 
many  warriors  were  con\erted  to  Chi'istiaidty. 
In  one  day  he  haj)tized  about  lifty  jtersons,  wliose 
names  were  enrolled  in  the  church  htjok,  and  their 
Bouls  saved  from  pei'dition. 


THE  GREAT  BUFFALO  HUNT. 

In  Father  Buche's  manuscript,  is  an  account  of 
a  threat  huffalo  hunt,  which  took  j)lace  on  the 
prairie  west  of  tlie  Illinois  river.  He  says  that 
lie  accompanied  thirty-eigdit  of  his  countrymen 
and  about  tlirce  liundred  Indians  on  a  buffalo 
luint,  when  they  killed  so  many  that  rheii-  hides 
alone  were  taken,  antl  their  carcabbes  lelt  on  the 


!     i 


TIJE  (JKEAT  IIUFFAI.O  HUNT. 


185 


]>riiiri(',  (nod  foi-  wolves.      A  lew    Icn^'ue.s    west  (»!' 
lilt!  H'lvat  \)v\h\  ii!  tlic    Illi]i()is   rivci',  llicv  dlscov- 
LTi'tl  a  lionl  ot   many  llioiisaiul  l)u]ral(>  ic-ediii"'  (»ii 
a  siiiuJI    prairie,  j.artiv   rtiHTomuU'd  by    lliic-k  t 


iin- 


}) 


It    b 


jciiii;-   al)out   sundown,    the  liuiiters  en- 


camped lor  the  iiii.'Jit  in  a  .u'rove  near  bv,  willi  tl 
intention  of  at  tack  in  li-  tlie  herd  on    t!; 


ie 


e   lollowinii' 


rnorniii'''. 


Next 


inorninu'  belb)-e  it  was  lii'-ht,  tl 


le 


ians,  divested  of  elothin<.^>,  mounted  on  ])onies 


ai'row, 


spears. 


Ind 

and  armed  with  guns,  bows  and 

i^'e.,  were  anxiou^ly  awaiting    the    command    of 

their  chief  to  commence  the  8[)ort.     The  Indians 

formed  a  circle  ai-oimd  the    hei'd,  secretinii'  thom- 


solvcs  in  tlie  tiinber,  Mdule  the  Fi'ench 


completed 


a  line  across  the  itrairie.  The  bulfalo  were  lyin<£ 
tliick  over  the  [)rairie,  chewing  tlieir  cud,  uncon- 
scious of  ap|»roach.ini;'  dan^'cr.  At  a  «>-ivon  si<^niul 
from  tlie  chief,  the  lines  closed  in  all  sides,  but 
soon  ac5  the  animals  <jjot  wind  of  the  ai-)))roaclii 


•IS 

mg 


enemy,  arose  to  their  feet  and  tied  in  great  con- 
fusion. But  on  apj)roaching  the  line  the  Indians 
lired  on  tliem,  at  the  same  time  yelling  at  the  top 
of  their  voice.  The  frightened  creatures  turned 
and  tied  in  the  ttpposite  directi(»n,  where  thej  were 
met  l)_y  the  Fn-ndi  hunters  and  foiled  in  a  like 
manner.  Ilius  they  continued  ^)  run  back  and 
forth  from  one  side  of  the  ring  to  the  othei-,  while 
the  slaughter  went  on. 


p 


ii.i 


fill 
I 

i 


186       FKlCNfm  AND  INIHANH  OF    IMJNOIB  UIVKU. 

As  tlio  hiiU'alo  a|»|>i'o;i(']iL;(l  tlic  line,  the  Indians 
would  jiicrt-e  tlioir  licai'ts  with  spears,  or  l»i-in;L;' 
fhoni  down  willi  at'rows  <»•  rille  balls.  Tlio  line 
continued  to  eloso  in,  and  the  l'ri<i:liten(Ml  hunUlo, 
snortiujj!:  and  with  wild  llashinu' eves,  would  charm' 


tl 


le 


ii'U 


[irds,  first  on  one  side,  tlien  on  the  other, 


hut  met  the  rnissiU;s  of  death  overywliere. 
Atter  surf^duii' hack  and  forth  in  wild  confusion, 
tliC!  IjulValo  broke  throuii'h  the  line,  bearing'  (h)wn 
th(!  guards,  junipiuij^  over  the  ])rostrated   ponies 


ant 


1  th 


(h 


id  tl 


leii"  ridei's,  aiiu  inus  made  t  Ueir  escape 


thei 


w 


ai 


F'athei'  Buclie  says  in  his  manuscript:  "By  ihe 
ild  sur<:;in'^  liei'd  my  pony  was  knocked  (h>\vn, 
id  I  lay  protitj-ated  by  it.-  side,  while  the  irii^iit- 
ened  bulfalo,  with  loud  siiortini;'  and  wild  llashin;^' 
oyeSjin  their  lliuht  jumped  over  me  ;  but  lhroni;-li 
the  ])roteetion  of  the  Holy  Virgin  I  was  sa\'ed 
from  instant  deatli." 


'>  '■* 


CIIAPTEIIXVI, 


JEAN  BAPTISTE  AM)  FATTfER  r.ONNER. 

^  111  tlicyc'ar  1790  tliero  lived   near   Lexiii-ton, 
Kcnitiicky,  a  yoimo-  slave  named  Jean   Ba[)tiste,' 
who  was  l.roiio-lit  hy  his  master   fn.m   Vir-inia 
i"!o  that  new  eountry.      Baptiste  assoeiated  much 
with  the  Indians,  learned  their  lani^-nao-o,  and  l.e- 
came  faseinated  with  their  free,  independent  mode 
*'t'  livino-.     His  proii.l  spiritc.uld  not  be  subdued 
by  the  whip  of  his   master;  therefore  lie  severed 
the  bond  whieh  made  him  a  s:ave,  and  takin-the 
north  star  for  a  gnide,  he  s..on  became  a  free  man. 
Armed  with  his  master's  ritle  and  a  lar-e  hni. tin- 
knife,  he  traveled  northward  a  lOut  three  hundred 
miles,  tlirou^i;h  a  wilderness  country.     On  reacli- 
iii-,^   I)es   Plaines   river    he    I'ound    refiio-e    i„    -,,, 
fiMlian    villao-e,    m;iri'ied    a  S(juaw    and  raised   a, 
'■"nily  (,f  ehil(h-en.     One  of  his  -ran.k.ons  is  now 
li'viD-'inahewnlo-hn,,.,,  on  lh<>  bank  ..f  Oahokia 
creek,  in  St.Clairc..iii)ly,  (com  wliu-hroblamcd  thr 
narrative  relatin-   to  his  distinguished  grandsire. 


li 


t: 


li 


:    I 


'    T 


I    ! 


188 


FRENOn  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS   RIVER. 


1,. 


K  ' 


I  ii 


:  i 

' 

<  \ 

. 

L 


Accor(1iii<;*t()t.lio  statciiK'iit of  S;in-<i;a-iinsli  (l)illy 
Caldwell),  the  lli'st  wliili'  iiiaii  lliut  suttliul  at  (Jlii- 
(*ai;()  was  a  iicum'o.  I'liis  nci^i'')  was  ii<>  oLlici"  lliaii 
Juan  Ba|)tist(^,  above  ruti.Trod  to,  wliosc  iiniiic  is 
now  ass()(;iHt('(l  with  the  carlv'  liistoiT  ol'tln'  wcst- 
ci'n  nu'ti'ojxtlis.  IIo  left  tlio  Indian  \illai;'e  on 
Dcs  Plains  rivor  soon  at'tei"  lie  catii(3  to  the  ('«tnn- 
tfy,  an<l  liuilt  a  cal)in  n<%'ir  tiie  nnintli  of  Clii('ai;'n 
i'i\('i',  inmicdinti'lv  luu'iJi  oj  Knsh  sti'eot  hridn'c. 
Ilrro  lie  cnliivaU'il  a  small  jtiecc  of  !j;round,  and 
spent  irineii  of  his  time  in  hnntinij;  and  fisliino', 
as  well  as  cont'ocring  schemes  to  make  himself  ii 
chii'f  amonir  the  Indians. 

Baj)tiste  toM  the  Indians  that  he  had  heen  a 
^•reat  chief  amon^'  the  whites  at  the  sontli,  and  he 
ex])eetcd  to  heeonie  one  amon^'  them  also.  Pos- 
sessing mneh  shrewdness  and  a  i;'ood  address,  this 
ennninu'  nea'ro  ti'ied  various  means  to  Li'ain  tln^ 
eoniidenee  of  the  Indians  so  that  lie  mi;j;'ht  he 
j)roclaitned  a  ehiet  amoiiL'  thorn,  hut  all  his 
]>lans  failed.  On  aeeount  (»f  the  almndance  of 
fish  here  at  the  month  of  the  river,  and  the  cool 
lake  breeze  in  the  summer  made  it  a  ^-ood  place 
for  a  vilhii^e,  and  he  per.snuded  his  Indian  friends 
to  come  thither  and  huild.  He  also  told  them  that 
some  day  there  wonld  he  a  hii;'  town  at  the  month 
of  Ohicaj^o  river,  and  if  they  occupied  the  land 
they  c(»idd   sell   it  to  the   whites  at  a  good  price. 


4 


-^J : 


JEAN  BArXISTR  AND  FATTIER  HONNEU. 


180 


>s- 

IS 

is 

of 

cc 


His  ol)joc't  was  to  ImiM  a  town  liorc  on  tlio  lake 
sliorc,  of  wliicli  lie  W(»iiltl  Ik;  tliu  foinuliT,  and  !»y 
tliat  means  i)ecorne  a  ciiiel.  A  few  Indians  hiiilt 
lodges  on  tlie  ind'tli  side  of  ihc  livcr,  in  accord- 
anc(3  with  P>a))tiste"s  wishes,  hnt  the  scattci'in-' 
trees  alVorded  the  villau'e  hnt  little  pndeetion  ri'(»in 
winter  storms,  and  the  cold  wind  frotn  tlir  lake 
(liseoura^^ed  them,  ('()nse(|uentl_v  thi'V  abandoned 
the  lake  and  returned  to  their  old  villaLic  on  the 
Des  Plains. 

At  that  time,  Father  Bonner,  a  Kreneh  Jesuit 
priest,  was  livini;-  anutiii:;  the  rndians,  and  for 
many  years  had  heen  j)reae,hing  to  tluMU.  Haj)- 
tise,  heing  aware  of  the  priest's  iidiuenee  anioni;' 
the  Indians,  thou<j,ht  he  nuiiht  use  it  to  his  own 
ad  van  lai;'e,  therefore  he  sou^-ht  his  fi-iendship,  and 
_ii:;aine(l  his  eontidence.  lie  also  joined  tlie  ehureli, 
heeame  a  zealous  Catholic,  attending  all  meetings, 
mid<ing  loni;'  and  fervent  j)rayers.  Father  Iion- 
ner  thought  only  of  making  Baptiste  an  insti'U- 
ment  in  his  hands  to  pa'omote  the  cause  of 
Christianity,  while  the  unscrupulous  negro  ex- 
pected to  use  the  [)riest  in  advancing  his  claims 
to  the  ehieftainshi[),  therefoi'e  the  two  hecame 
intimati'  friends  and  lal)ore<l  for  each  other's 
interest. 

Father  liounei'  iiolilled  all  the  Indians  who 
wei'e  comiiuinicants  of  his  chui'ch.  t(»   meet   him 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER, NY.  M5B0 

(716'  872-4S03 


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190       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  (»F  ILLINOIS  FITKR. 


(HI  St.  Jurorne'B  day  at  the  place  on  Cliicago  river 
consccratt'd  l)y  Father  Maniiiettc,  for  the  [>ur- 
po.se  of  ortorin^j:  up  prayers  to  Clirist  and  the 
Holy  Virgin,  hut  ids  real  ohjei-t  was  to  have 
IJajttiste  )>r()clai!ne<l  head  chief  of  tlie  hand.  On 
the  day  appointc^l  a  large  nurnher  of  Indians  col- 
lected at  the  place  designated,  in  accor.hince  witli 
the  priests  request,  when  the  ohject  of  the  uieet- 
ing  was  explained  to  them.  On  llie  mound, 
which  hat]  Ion}--  hcen  hallowed  hv  the  Indians  as 
the  spot  where  Manpiette  built  an  altar,  a  wooden 
cross  was  erected  for  the  occasion.  Father  Hon- 
ncr,  standing  hy  the  side  of  this  cross,  preached 
to  the  Indians,  and  in  conclusion,  said  that  he 
ha<l  a  matter  ot  griiaf  importance  to  lay  before 
tliem.      Ill'  told  them  that   the  Holy  Virgin   had 


visi 


ted  1 1 


di 


I 


li 


inn  i!i  a  ili'eam,  anM  impressed  uj»om  his 
mind  that  the  advancement  of  (Christianity  re- 
ipiired  that  BaplIsLe,  hy  divine  authority,  should 
be  proclaimed  hea<l  chief  of  the  band.  liiptiste 
now  came  forward  and  knelt  by  the  side  of  tin- 
cross,  when  the  priest  am>intcd  him  chief  in  the 
same  maimer  that  Sannu'l  annointetl  Saul,  king 
ol  Israel.  After  pnuring  bears  «»il  on  Bapti^te's 
wooly  head,  he  exclaimed  in  a  loud  voice,  ''  By 
the  power  and  authority  ot  the  Holy  Catholic 
Church,  I  pronounce  this  mau  head  cliiel' <»!  this 
ba?id."      When  the  cerennmy   was  eompk'ted,  the 


riEKRE   DE  BEUBO. 


191 


■'  1  \s 
Itolic 
thin 
tiic 


priest  ofTiTcd  up  prayer  in  behalf  of  tlio  newly 
a])p()inte(l  eliief,  calliiiLC  on  the  Vir;;iii  to  give  him 
graee  and  wisdom  in  order  that  lie  nn'^ht  he  a 
just  and  wise  rider  ol  his  people. 

Tlie  Indiatis  refused  to  accept  Haptiste  as  their 
headchiot,  notwitlistandini;  lie  liad  heen  appointed 
by  hiirh  authority,  and  the  would-be  ruler  re- 
turned to  his  cabin  witli  a  sorrowful  lieart.  Fail- 
ing to  gain  power  over  the  Indians,  Riptiste 
became  disgusted  witli  the  life  of  a  savage,  al)an- 
doned  his  cabin  and  went  to  Peoria,  where  he 
ended  his  days  some  years  afterwards. 

The  cabin  whicli  I-»aptiste  built  was  afterwards 
oceu}>ied  by  a  French  trader  named  Le  Mai,  who 
sold  it  to  John  Kinzie  in  1804,  about  the  time 
Fort  Dearborn  was  built. 

Father  Bonner  was  loved  ami  honored  by  the 
Indians,  and  he  remained  with  tluni  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  one  year  before  Fort  Dear- 
born was  built.  He  waH  not  oidy  a  spiritual 
father,  but  said  to  be  a  natural  one,  as  a  mimber 
of  half-breeds,  known  to  the  early  settlers  of 
Chieago,  claime«l  to  be  I  a  descendants. 


PIEKKE  DE  BEUKO. 

About  the  year  177(5,  a  young  French  Creole  of 
Cahokia,  bv  the  n*ime  of  Pierre   De  Heuro,  came 


'    ; 


ll' 


f 


k      I 


192       FUENOH  AND  INDIANS  uF  ILLINOIS  BI7EK. 

to  PiM»ri;i,  and  \\u'  a  tew  years  wan  employed  as  a 
clerk  ill  a  trjnliiii;  liuiise.  Dv  Beuro  heiriii'  of  an 
(•iiterpri8iii«i'  turn  of  hi'iikI,  and  well  acquainted 
with  the  Indian  laM<:iia*re,  left  IVt)ria  in  nearcli 
of  his  fortune.  Ilavini;  made  the  ae(juaintanee 
ol  ji  nund»er  of  chiefs  while  clerking  at   Peoria, 


lie  coiichi  led    to   \  isit   tlieir  villages 


ilh 


\\ 


hiel 


I  wei'e 


located  at   dilferent    points  on   or  near  the  river. 
lie  sto]»ped    some    time   at    Wap|>a,   on    Bureau 


reek,   theti   at   a   \  iliaj^e  on   Lakf    l>e    Piu 


a  IK 


aftei-wardf  went  to  a   lar^'e   town   near  the  moutli 


V 


i\    ri\cr 


H 


ere   he    niarrieO 


a    s<iuaw. 


tl 


le 


daiiiihlt'i' ol  a  noted  cliicf,  and  nia<le  prt'paralions 
to  en<^aii<'  i"  'he  tui"  trade. 

I)e  Beuro  s  isited  Peoria  to  procure  necessary 
tools  loi'  huildiiii;  a  house,  and  accompanied  hy  a 
halt-hreed  he  ascefided  the  river  as  far  as  the 
mouth  ol  Bureau  creek,  where  lie  estahlished  a 
tradiiiii  po^l. 

Below  the  mouth  o\'  Bureau  creek  is  i\y>.  eleva- 
te«l  piece  ol  land,  covered  with  timher,  and  known 
as  Hickory  Rid;^*'.  Tliib  phice  V)ecame  a  n«tte<l 
land  mark  with  the  Fri-ncli  and  Indians  and  was 
the  scene  of  a  luimher  ot  traditioiiarN  incidents. 
It  also  hecame  a  place  of  note  in  the  early  settle- 
ment of  till'  country,  and  durin^f  high  water  was 
the  landing-  foi  the  Hennepin  feirydtoat.  Here 
on   this  ridge,  elevated  above  tiie  tioudtt  of  the 


riKRRE  DE  nEURO. 


l<^;? 


riviT,  Dc  Hcuro,  assisted  hv  a  nunilier  of  rrulianp, 
built  a  <lniil)le  lofj  ('ahiii,  {in<l  laid  the  toimdatioii 
of  a  lar^v  t'ur  trade.  Hcin^  lofatLMJ  in  the  heart 
ot'  the  Indian  countrv,  llie  first  vear  he  eollected 


t\v(»  canoe  loads  ot  furs  and   iMifValo  skins,  which 
he  fihiji]>ed  to  Caliolda.  and  paid  for  them  on  liih 


return  with  goods  received  in  exci»aniie. 

While  tiie  traders  at  Peoria  continued  to  send 
their  furs  to  Canada,  Do  Beuro  sent  his  ti>  Caho- 
kia,  and  there  obtained  goods  for  the  Indian 
market.  Antoiiie  Det^  Champs  said  every  spriiii,' 
f(»r  a  number  t.>f  voars,  eano(\s  loaded  with  furs 
and  bulfalo  robes,  pa-^sed  Pe<»ria  on  their  wav 
down  tiie  river  from  this  tradin<^  house.  The 
traders  at  Peoria  were  unt'ricHidly  toward  De 
Beuro,  as  he  took  a  lar^'e  portion  of  their  trade, 
and  they  tried  to  huy  hiiu  out,  hut  did  not  suc- 
ceed,. In  the  spring  of  1790,  Dc  Reun..  in  ;ic- 
C(.>rdanee  with  his  former  custom,  sent  two  canoes 
loaded  with  furs  down  the  river  to  Cahokia,  in 
charije  of  his  clerk  and  two  In<liann.  The  trader 
accompanied   the  canoes  down    the    river  about 


twentv  rades  to  an 


Itid 


ian  villair< 


for  tl 


le  pur})ose 


of  transacting  some  business,  and  fr«)m  here  he 
started  for  home  on  foot,  but  never  reached  it. 
Search  was  made  for  the  missing  trader,  an<l  some 
(lavs  afterwards  his  remains  were  tbun<l  a  short 
distance  from  the  trail,  in  a  thick  cluster  of  un- 


194      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF   ILLINOIS  RIVKB. 


U     I 


i     k 


derbnisli,  partly  devoured  by  wolves,  lie  lind 
Ixjeu  shot  through  the  hody,  and  t'poiri  appearaiKtes 
ran  a  yliort  di^tanee  when  he  was  overtaken  l>y  the 
assassiii  and  hiK  head  s])lit  open  with  a  totuahawk. 
Report  says  a  trader  at  Peoria,  whose  deseend- 
ants  are  now  liviiiij^  near  East  St.  Louis,  heinj^ 
angry  at  De  Beuro  on  aeeount  of  taking  away 
niueli  of  his  trade,  en»pl<»ye<l  a  half-hreed  to  assas- 
sinate him,  and  therehy  hreak  up  the  rival  trading 

lH)St. 

When  the  chM'k  found  that  the  trader  was  dead, 
he  ;ipproprial«'d  tlie  proee(>d>  «if  the  furs  t()  his 
own  Mccouiil,  and  Dc  B<Mir(>">  s<piav,'  |tut  the  g(Mids 
at  the  trailing  luMise  into  eamu's,  and  took  tliein 
to  her  pt'opU.'  wlio  livt-d  at  a  village  neai'  the 
nioutli  of  F(».\  river.  Thus  the  trading  })ost  was 
broke!)  uj),  after  being  in  o])erati«»n  fourteen 
years.  The  huildings  vaeatecl  went  to  deeay,  but 
from  thi>  trader   F-Jureau  ereek  derived  its  name. 

Dming  the  war  of  IH12,  when  the  troops  under 
General  Howard,  at  Peoria,  were  preparing  to 
aseend  the  river  in  keel  boats  in  search  of  the 
enemy,  the  Indians  tore  down  the  cabins  built 
by  De  Penro,  and  with  the  logs  erected  a  breast- 
work on  the  river  bank  so  they  could  tire  (»n  the 
boats.  But  on  the  arrival  of  the  boats,  and  tind- 
ing  their  decks  protected  by  lieavy  planking,  with 
port  lu)les  for  cannon,  the  Indians  were  stiieken 


CAPTAIN  LEVBRIN0  8  VI8IT  To  PEORIA. 


195 


witli  janic,  and  fle<l  from  tlicii-  lircastworks  with- 
out firing  a  ^nu  or  letting  their  prestuice  he 
known  to  the  troops. 

Genlen  S.  Ilul)har(l  shvs,  wiien  he  canie  to  the 
countrv  in  I8l8,  lliin  hreav^work  wah  still  stand- 
ing, and  its  relics  were  plain  to  he  seen  in  the 
eurlv  settlement  ol"  the  eounirv.^ 

CAPTAIN  LKVKRINg's  VISIT  TO  PKOKIA. 


In    tl 


le    su 


miner    of   1809,   soon  alter  Niniai 


Edwards  was  apj»ointed  (lovernor  ol  Illinois 
territory,  tronl)]"  existed  between  tin-  whites  and 
Indians,  and  a  tew  ]>ei'sons  were  kill('<l  \\\  the 
latter.  The  Indians  on  the  Illinois  river  appear- 
ed shy  and  unfriendly,  and  rumors  were  in  circu- 
lation that  they  meditati^I  an  attack  upon  the 
frontier  hettlements.  These  re|)orts,  and  tlunr 
unfi-Ieii<llv  demonstrations,  cause<l  (4ov(!rnoi' 
Edwards  to  send  Captain  Levei'ini;',  ;i  native  of 
Kaskaskia,  with  a  small  company  of  volunteers 
in  a  keel  boat  to  Peoria,  in  order  to  aseerlain  the 
intention  ol   the  Indians. 


Ca]>tain    Leveriiii;'  and   all    his  ('(Mnpany    we 


re 


ri'uch 


■re«)les,    w 


ho     understood     the     Intlian 


♦  A  f*'w  vturH  ago  Ixivid  MUh-r  cut  tlu*  tlinluT  off  Hickory 
Hi(l|.'«' iiiul  put  the  liind  iiiidf  r  ciiMlMilloii.  Where  lie  l{cur()'>< 
trtuliii^  house  ^t<M.Kl  nuiny  relict,  of  civilization,  such  ii»>  pleoen 
ol  pollery,  glassware,  «lc.,  were  plowtnl  up. 


f 


i 

■  I 


r 


196      FKENOB  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

laiiiTuatre  aii<l  customs,  and  with  wlunii  friLMidlv 
relation  cxiKted,  even  in  time  of  war. 

On  arriving  at  Peoria  the  volunteers  were 
cordially  received  by  V>otli  French  and  Indians, 
who  j)re|)ared  for  them  a  great  feast  and  a  hall 
in  the  evening.  Some  ot  the  guests  became  fas- 
cinated witli  the  Indian  maidens,  two  of  wlioin 
took  wives  lunne  with  them. 

From  IVoria  parties  were  sent  to  dilTerent 
Indian  villages  for  the  pnr})Ose  ol  delivering  pres- 
ents, and  have  a  talk  with  thechii^fs.  One  of  the 
parties  visited  the  Kickapoo  village  (Ui  Sugar 
creek,  al)out  fo'l\  nulcvS  southeast  of  Peoria,  and 
the  Indians  In  !•'•  expressed  a  friendly  feeling 
towards  Americans. 

Jose})!!  Tr()ti(T,  a  native  of  Cahokia,  accom- 
pa?ued  by  two  li.tlf-breeds,  ascended  the  river  in 
a  canoe  as  far  as  the  great  l)eiid,  stopi)ing  at 
Crows,  Gomc)  and  Black  Partridge's  villages,  and 
troni  the  chiefs  and  warriors  received  assurance 
of  peace  and  friendship.  They  also  visited  the 
village  of  Wappa,  on  Bureau  creek,  and  Comas 
the  head  chief  sent  Governor  Edwards  as  a  token 
of  friendshij*,  a  j).'iir  of  laige  elk  horns  and  a 
])ant]ier  skin,  all  of  which  lie  had  taken  with  his 
own  luinds. 

Captain  Levering  and  company  retur?ied  to 
Kaskaskia,  carrying  with    them   many  presents 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  OHIRFS  IN  COUNCIL.        107 

from  tho   chief's  to  Governor  K<lwanl8,  aii<l   alsd 
tiu'ir  |)l<Ml«^e8  of  tViendship. 

For  lu^arlv  two  yeaj'8  al'lei'  Oaptaiii  I.everiiii»''s 
vihit  to  the  Indian  eoiintiv,  tiic  t'i(»ntirr  K'ttU--- 
jnents  were  not  niolehtcfl.  hnt  in  tlie  tall  ot  ISII, 
a  niunher  of  j>erst)iis  were  killed  I»y  the  Indians 
in  Madison  and  St.  Clair  eonntics.  At  tiiese 
de})re«hitions  peojde  nn  tlie  t'n-ntier  settlements 
heeanie  ;;reatly  alarnu'<|  ;  8(»inr  tied  tioni  the 
cojintrv,  wliiie  otliers  hnilt  tenijiorai'v  torts  to 
slneld  tiienihelxes  li'oni  the  tunniliawks  and  scHlp- 
iiii:  knives  of  the  savages.  Fort  Knsst^ll  was 
hnilt  near  the  present  site  of  E<lwai'<lsvill(',  and 
eannon  l)rouglit  iroin  old  Foit  Charters  and 
mounted  on  its  wooden   ramparts. 

iiOVKRNOR    EDWARDS     MKKTINO    THE     POTTAWATO- 
MIE   OHIKFS. 


I)urin>;the  wintei"  of  1811  12,  the  Indians  at 
the  ditl'ei'ent  viliaires  along  the  river,  lu'ard  that 
jneparations  were  heing  ma«le  hy  (tovcriinr  PM- 
wai'ds  to  send  an  army  against  them  in  the  s|»i'iiig. 
On  hearing  of  tiiis  intended  in\a.>i.iii  \,\  ihe 
troo[»s,  they  were  mueli  alarmed,  and  the  chiefs 
ami  principal  wani<»rs  mt-t  in  c(»nncil  at  Senaeh- 
wine's  viihige,  to  agree  on  plans  (oi-  the  future, 
l)Ut  in>  detiinte  eojiclnsion  was  arrive<l  at.     Manv 


I  1 


198       FRKNCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVEK. 

of  the  chiefH  went  to  Peoria  to  consult  witli  tlieir 
friends,  the  French,  and  to  inv)cnre  their  ahsistaiice 
in  avertinjuj  the  evil  whicli  tiireatened  them. 
Captain  J.  B.  Muillet  connented  to  go  to  Kaskab- 
kia  and  Bee  Governor  Edwards,  and  j>k'dgo  to 
him  their  intentions  of  peace  and  friendsliij*.  On 
arriving  at  the  seat  of  government  the  (iovernor 
proposed  to  meet  the  chiefs  in  conncil  at  Cahokia, 
in  the  latter  part  of  A])ril,  and  there  settle  all 
misntidcrstandings.  At  the  time  appointed  a 
large  delegation  ol  chiefs,  among  wh<jm  were 
Black  Partri<lge,  Senachwine  and  Gomo,  in  their 
canoes  arrived  ui   Cahokia. 

The  council  w .i-  held  in  a  little  grove  of  tind)er 
on  the  bank  ol  Cahokia  creek,  above  the  town 
and  was  attended  by  a  large  collection  of  people, 
some  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  to  them  I  am 
indebted  for  some  facts  relating  to  it.* 

Black  Partriiigc  made  a  speech  in  the  council, 
and  while  holding  aloft  a  silver  medal  which  he 
wore  suspended  ivma  his  neck,  said  :  "  This  token 

*  While  at  Cahoklu  a  Hhort  time  ago,  the  place  of  holcUng  this 
couiu'll  was  polntfil  «nit  tome  hy  an  old  man,  who  In  his  boy- 
hood days,  sslxty-lwo  years  h(!fore.  attendi'd  It.  He  doscvilH-d 
Hlat'k  I'artrldue,  Siiiachwine,  and  other  elilets.  who  It  nppiiirs 
made  a  lasthig  impressiim  npon  his  then  yonthlul  mind.  In 
tills  little  (irove  where  the  counoil  was  held,  is  a  lamt*  l)in  r  oak 
tree,  whi''h  looks  us  tliouKh  It  mlKht  have  «tood  heielor  many 
centuries.  At  the  root  of  this  tree,  said  the  old  man,  Pontlae 
(or  the  Indian  who  passed  for  such)  was  sitting,  when  a  warrior 
uame  up  behind  liim  aud  upilt  hlti  heuU  upeu  with  a  tomuhawli  • 


!  ;1 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  COIEFS  IN  COUNCIL.        199 


of  tViuiitlslii|»  WMs  fj;ivi'ii  to  inc  at  Gri't'iu  ilk*  l»y 
your  ^I'l'iit  ciiict  ((iciutjiI  Wavin;).  On  it  von 
Bce  the  tiico  ot  oiir  i::ivHt  fjitluM*  at  Wasliiii^ton, 
and  an  l«»n^'  as  tlils  lian^^s  tioiii  niv  lu'ck  I  nevM* 
will  raiM"  mv  toinahawk  aj^ainst  tli(3  wliites.'' 

I*K'(l;j,(s  ot  fii.  ii(lshi|)  were  made  bv  the  chiefs, 
arulGovenmr  Kduards  di^inissed  them  with  many 
presents,  when  ihuv  ivturne(|  to  their  homes. 
For  ^evel■al   monlhs  after  this  (•(»uncil    harnnmv 

ft/ 

lu>tween  the  Indians  and  fnmtier  settlements  wdA 
undistnrhed,  and  |»eojiie  passed  hack  and  forth  to 
Lake  Miehi<;an,  as  in  former  (hiys. 

Ahout  the  lirst  ot  Auirnst  two  emisaiMes  from 
Teenmseli  arriNed  on  the  Illin<»is  river  informing 
the  Indians  that  war  existed  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain,  ajid  tried  to  induce 
them  to  take  i»ai-l  with  the  latter.  A  eounctil  was 
called  at  Gonio's  villai^e,  at  which  tlie  chiefs  of 
the  different  hands  ojtj)osed  taking;  part  in  the 
war.  On  the  following'  day  about  one  liundred 
and  fifty  Noun^  warri(»rrt  belon^rmu'  to  different 
villages,  left  for  Chicai»o,  to  join  other  bands  in 
an  attack  on  Fort  Dearborn.  Black  Partridge 
on  learning  this  lact,  mounted  his  j)o!iy  and  fol- 
lower] these  young  bloods  to  dissuade  them  from 
tlu'ii"  |>ur|)ose.  but  filled  in  ids  mission,  and 
a  few  days  after  their  ;ini\al  at  Chicago,  the  fort 
was  abandoned  and  trt>opa  masbaered. 


CIIxVPTEli  XV  l\. 


TROOPS  MAKCHINO   AOAINSTTHK  INDIANS. 

Ill  till'  (all  <»t"  H12.  an  anny  of  two  tlioiisaiKJ 
moiuitt'd  ritk'iiieii  from  Ktiitiieky,  iiiidcr  tlu'  coiii- 
iiiand  of  General  Hopkins,  arrived  at  Fort  Ilar- 
rirtoii  (»n  the  Wabash.  The.-e  troops  were  ordered 
bv  the  eornniander-in-ehief  «tt'  the  western  annv 
to  iiiiuvh  ai;'ainst  the  lii<lian>  on  the  Illinois  river, 
as  it  WHS  V)elieved  that  many  ol  tiieiii  )»artiei|)ate(l 
in  the  Chicago  inassaere,  whieh  had  taken  i>laee 
a  few'  months  before. 

On  the  1 4th  of  Oetoher  this  i>rand  army,  tlie 
larueat    that   had   ever   been   so  tar  west,  entered 


111 


IIIOIS   111 


what 


IS  now 


Kd<r; 


ir  county,  and  shape< 


d 


their  eonrse  northwest  aerost  the   prairii 


O 


n 


the  fourth  day  out  the  prairie  o/as  discovered  on 
tire,  and  the  soldiers  became  ahinned,  fearing  that 
they  would  be  bunieil  up  in  the  llumes.  Beinir 
stricken  with  a  panic  they  mutinied  —  all  their 
patriotism  vanished  —  and  they  resolved  to  j;'o  no 
further  through  a  country  enveloped  in  fire  and 


TKOOrS  MAROHINQ  AGAINST  THE   INDIANS.       201 

sniokc.  Wliilc  tliis  n;rt'at  hi-iiiv  wa.-'  in  coiit'iisicm, 
soldiers  iviiioiistratiiiix  with  \\\v  ottit-ers,  it  is  sai<l 
OIK*  Major  l^'iiiik  ro<lt'  u|»  to  Gcnoral  Ilojtkins 
aiwl  oixltTc*!  }iiiii  to  turn  back.  The  iriMicral 
fiii(liu<;  all  iiiilitar\  law  at  an  end,  ahandont'd  the 
<j.\jie<lition,  and  niaivhud  his  arniv  hack  to  the; 
Wahash. 

Ahout  this  fiuR'  Governor  Kdwards,  with  three 
hundred  mounted  rangers,  under  the  connnand 
of  Colonel  Russell,  mandied  northward  from  Fort 
Russell,  near  the  present  site  of  Edwardsville,  for 
the  j)ur|)«)8e  ol  operating'  with  Hopkins'  arniv 
iil^ainsl  the  Indiatis.  Rut  l)eing  unaliU-  to  find 
the  arniv  under  Hopkins,  they  continued  on 
their  wav  toward  the  Indian  coiintrv.  G(n'ernor 
Kdwards'  rangers  being  mounted  on  good  horses, 
without  baggage  except  what  each  man  carried 
in  his  sadtlle  bags,  enabled  them  to  mjirch  direct 
for  Peoria  Lake,  and  on  the  fourth  day  reached 
Blaek  Parlridire's  village.  The  Indians  having 
no  warning  of  the  aj)proaehing  enemy,  were  un- 
preparetl  to  nnd<e  a  defense.  Most  of  the 
warriors  being  olf  on  a  hunt,  tiie  stpiaws  and 
pap]H)oses  fell  an  easy  prey  t(»  the  ranircrs.  The 
Indians,  panic-stricken,  lied  fi-om  their  village, 
leaving  in  their  flight  i)onie-,  canijj  enuipage  and 


dl  otl 


ler  va 


luabl 


es. 


A  few  of  the  warriors  were 


wounded  In  the  assault,  so  they  could   not   make 


V 


202       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS   RIVER, 


i 

I 


.::t 
is' 


i  ^' 


their  escape,  and  rlieretore  became  victitiis  (»f  the 
assailants.  The^e  wounded  warriors  with  a  innn- 
l)er  of  })a}>j)ooses  and  a  lew  persons  deerepid  hy 
age,  were  kiUed  hy  tlie  ran^-ers.  who  afterwards 
said  in  justification  of  this  harhai'ous  act  that 
they  did  not  leave  home  to  take  prisoners. 

The  villaj^e  with  all  its  contents  was  destroved 
hy  tire;  even  the  coi-n  in  tlu;  caclies  was  taken 
out  and  hurned,  and  many  of  tlu'  jtonies  were 
taken  off  as  trophies  ot  war. 

As  soon  as  the  ran::;ers  had  completed  their 
work  of  destruction,  they  started  hack  on  a 
forced  rnandi  tor  the  settlement,  as  tliey  were 
now  in  the  midst  <tf  the  Indian  country,  where  a 
thousand  or  mcu'e  warriors  could  he  raised  in  a 
dav's  time.* 

BL/.'^K    PAKTKIDGK. 

This  chief,  whose  Indian  name  was  Mucketey- 
pokee,  lived  at  his  village  on  tin;  hank  of  Illiuoi^ 
river,  a  short  distance  above  the  head  of  Pi'oria 
Lake.  Here  he  lived,  and  here  he  died,  and  in 
the  earlv  settlement    of   the   countrv.    his    liravc 


1 1* There  are  coninotUig  aocouuts  rt-lailnu  id  lli»*  dtHiructioii  <»( 
HlUL'k  r»nrtrlilt<f's  viniifit',  some  of  wlilrli  eoiiliMilict  tli<'>.e  Imr- 
Imrous  lU'ts  oi  the  soldiers.  Hut  I  ohijiiiuil  my  iiiloriiial ion 
whUe  in  eonversutlou  witli  (^e^le^al  Wliitesiilts.  who  was  prew- 
eut  ami  parth'i|iHfe<l  In  IhlK  nJliiU'  CJcihijiI  VN  hltesules  'then 
u  3'uuDg  lutiuj  belonged  to  (aiiialn  Judj't*  eumpauy  ol  Mples. 


* 


BLACK    PARTRIDGE. 


203 


I 


Wilis  pointed  to  strangers.  Persons  an?  now  liv- 
in^^  who  knew  this  chic^f  well,  hiuI  tVoin  whom  1 
«>l)taine(l  a  <lescri|)tion  <»t'  his  person,  and  many 
inei'lents  relatint;  to  his  lih'  and  character. 

Black  Partridjie  was  tall  and  slim,  witli  a  hiuh 
forehead,  a  larije  nose,  a  sharp  visage  and  pierc- 
ing Vilaek  eye<.  Mis  ap]»earanee  was  nohle,  his 
tbrm  erect,  and  his  tigure  commanding.  The 
long  coarse  hair,  once  as  black  as  a  raven,  i»ut  (A 
latter  years  mixed  witli  gray,  liung  in  matted 
clusters  over  his  shoulders.  On  his  breast  he 
wore  a  sihcr  medal,  on  which  was  the  medallion 
head  ot  (reneral  Washiiigton,  and  in  his  no>e 
and  ears  were  lai'ge  gold   rings. 

In  the  border  wars  of  Oiiio,  Black  Partridge 
took  a  part  and  with  a  few  of  his  braves  fought 
against  the  whiles.  He  was  pi'esent  and  signed 
the  treatv  of  (Greenville,  in  the  sear  1795,  and 
received  from  tin;  hand  ot  (Tcnci-al  Wayne,  the 
medal  above  referi'ed  to.  This  medal  ais  an 
insignia  of  peace  and  friendship,  was  carried  about 
his  person  for  seventeen  years,  and  surrendered  it 
toCai>raiii  Ileald,  August   15.  L^12. 

and  liad  agofxl  opportunity  of  ohserviiiy:  wlint  iraii.spln'd.  He 
(lescrlbcd  some  acts  ol  I lu' soldiers,  which  tor  the  sako  of  Im- 
nruiity  oiitfht  not  to  lif  recorded  in  history,  and  Iherelbre  will 
l»«ar  no  part  In  this  narrative. 

llavlniz  already  puhllshfd  some  Items  In  relation  to  the  de- 
struction of  Ulack  rartrldjte'H  village,  it  becoines  unneceKsary 
to  repeat  Ihem  here. 


Ji 

I  i 

t 
I  i 


204      FRENOn  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

Oil  the  niornin*^'  <'t'  tlie  Cliicagn  niat^t^aciT. 
Black  rarlri<lii('  cTitc'cd  tlu'  (jii.irtcrs  of  Captain 
Ileald,  tlic  otHccr  in  fominand  of  Fort  I)oarl)<nMi, 
and  said  to  liiin,  ''I  liaMconic  to  dclivfM-  n|>  to 
ynii  tills  medal  wlddi  I  have  I(»?i<x  Wnrii  a.-^  a  token 
of  frioiidsbij),  .nid  it  is  witli  a  sorrowful  heart  I 
now  part  witli  it.  Hut  oiii-  youni;  braves  an; 
resolved  on  inil'uin<;  their  hands  in  Imnian  hlood  ; 
I  caniioi  i-estrain  tlie;ri,  and  I  will  not  wear  an 
einhleni  of  friendship  while  1  am  compelled  to 
act  as  an  enemy.  ' 

111  Mrs.  Kin/.ie'f  acerMint  of  the  Chicago  mas- 
saeiT  is  related  an  int  ident  oi'  l^laek  Partridge 
saving  the  life  ol  Miv.  Ilehn,  wite  <»f  Lieutenant 
Helm.  see(»nd  olHeei"  in  eommand  at  Ft)rt  Dear- 
lM»rn.  This  incident  almost  rivals  romance,  l>nt 
its  truth  is  contirmed  l)y  a  person  still  living — 
Mi's.  Hiiisoii — who  was  i)resent,  and  fmni  whom 
T  parth  ohtaiiie(l  the  following  narrative. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15tli  ol  August,  1812, 
the  sun  I'osi'  witli  iinusual  splen(hu\  and  its  golden 
rays  were  rellected  (rom  the  smooth  water  of  I^ake 
Michigan,  hut  many  of  the  inmates  of  P\)rt  Di'ar- 
horn  wh(»  then  looked  upon  it,  di<l  not  live  to  see 
it  set  heiieath  the  western  hori/on. 

At  nine  o'eloek  the  troops  left  the  lort  in  mili- 
tary array,  with  martial  music,  atid  flags  Hying. 
Ca})taiu  Wells,  having  his  faco  blacked  after  the 


BLAOK    rARTRinOE. 


205 


iiiaiuu'i'  t) 


mili- 

11 1. U. 

the 


{   Iiuli 


.11." 


:lli< 


IlloUlltid  on   liur>('.-,   led   tlir   Mill 


1  Wltl 

rli 


I   III.- 


M 
Tl 


laiiii   warriors 


(oot  follow 


ic   tr<to|)>  (til 


»m1.  ;iii(i  next  to  tlicm  wci'c  llir  I Kiy^aiiv 


\\ai;oii>  coiitainiiiir  tlio  sick,  witii  tlir  \v<Mii('ti  and 
cliildii'ii,   vvliilc    the    Pottawatomie    \\an"i(»rs  Hnc 
liuiidred  in  niunhfr,  hrotiiiht    iijt   tlie  r«'ar.     '^lli^ 
(•ai'avan  iol!()W('(l  tlic  io;id  aloii"^  the  Itcacli    of  the 
hike  for    ahout   a  niih*  and   a   half,   to  ;i  raiii::*'  of 
>and    knolls,*      lleie   the    Pottawatomie.-   left    the 
loud,    and    took    to    the    |irairie.    when    C'ai'tain 
Wells,  witli  his  horse  on  a  i^'alloj),  roile  l)aek  and 
told  the  ti-oMjt>  to  form   ti»r  battle,   a>    the    Potta- 
walomies  were  about  to  attack  th«'in.       Soon    the 
tiy'ht     comnu'niM'd,    and     the    soldiers    defended 
thein^elves  manfullv,  ,»>e!lin;:-  their    livet;  hh  dearlv 
H8  possible,  but  manv  fell   n\\   everv    hand    bv   an 
o\ci-} lower ini;-  (  nemv.      Mr>.  Helm,  wile  of  Lieu- 
tenant   Helm,   then    but    >eventeen   years  of  ap-, 
hH\in<i'  lietMi  tlu'own  iVom  her  hors-e   at    the   eom- 
rnenement  of  the  H;^ht,  ^t«>od     pell    bound,  lo(»k- 
iiiij  on  the  scene    of  bh»od    ;ind    carna*;e    around 
her.      Iler  latlu'r  an<l    hu>baml   were  euj^a^.  <i    in 
the  fearhd  ^trifc,  and  .-^lic  <'\|ie«;ted  every  niomenl 
[o  see  them  fall  b\  the  mnidei'oussas  aijfes.      Soon 
a  warrior  with  an  unlirted   t(»mahawd':  ajiproaehed 

'Tlil.s  riuittf  of  SH  11(1  kiiulls  wiis  whPii'  Fimrtcfiith  sfrocM 
vtilkfs  tile  IhUc,  Hiiil  sv  (  It' ii  klinl  nf  a  l:iiic|  imirk  tlilrty  yotrs 
ugo,  liul  Uuve  siiu't'  l)t>»>i>  grudtfil  down  ni  iiiiiktng  tlie  Hlrvel. 


. 


206      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS   OP   ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


Il!i 


lier,  ])ut  (lodtrini:^  to  (me  pkIc  the  blow  intemled 
for  lier  lie;i«l  took  ctVet't  in  the  t^h<Hil(ler,  prodiic- 
iiii::  a  ^haslly  wound.  She  can^'ht  tJie  savage 
around  the  neckband  attetnpted  to  vrvt  possession 
of  liis  sealj)intr  kiiile  whieii  liuni;  in  a  scabbard 
on  his  breast,  l)ut  the  warrior  tlirew  lier  to  one 
side  ami  was  abont  to  hm'  his  tomahawk  on  her 
head,  wdieii  she  \va^  caiiiiht  in  the  arms  of  another 
Indian  who  bore  her  olf,  stru^'uling,  into  the  lake. 
Here  she  was  pinnued  under  the  water,  but  her 
head  was  frequently  raised,  so  she  soon  diseovered 
that  the  Indian  did  not'intend  t(Klrown  her.  Oji 
looking  into  the  Wwe  of  her  captor,  she  recognized 
Bhu'k  Partridge,  the  white  man's  friend,  notwith- 
Btaiuling  he  was  disguised  by  paint.  When  the 
tight  was  over  her  protector  conveyed  his  charge 
to  the  Indian  camp,  and  delivered  her  over  to  a 
friendly  s(pia\v  who  dressed  her  w<tunds.* 

About  two  months  after  the  events  above  nar- 
rated, Black  Partri<lge  learned  that  Lieutenant 
Helm,  the  husbaiul  of  the  woman  whose  lite  he 
had  saved,  was  still  a  priscuier  among  the  Indians 
at  a  village  on  the  Kankakee  river.  On  receiv- 
ing this  intelligence  he  boarded  a  canoe  and  went 

IT'  ~ 

to  Peoria  to  consult  with  his  friends  in    relation 

*  ThlH  IikUuu  eiK'ainpuuMit  was  on  a  small  stream  or  nlough, 
which  ran  al<mn  the  line  of  Stale  street,  and  entered  the  river 
near  Clark  .street  brldj^e  This  oamp,ao«'orilinK  to  the  statement 
uf  Billy  (.Caldwell, was  near  where  Jiick.son  street  cruHMes  State. 


BLACK    PARTRIDGE. 


207 


to  the  Lieutenant's  ransom.  Ca])tain  J.  B.  Mail- 
let,  Antoine  Des  Cliaiu})8  and  Tliomas  Forsyth, 
were  consulted,  and  it  was  agreed  by  them  that 
Jihtek  Partrid<i:e  should  go  immediately  to  the 
Indian  village  and  purchase  the  release  of  Lieu- 
tenant Helm.  Presents  were  furnished  hv  the 
three  traders  as  a  ransom  for  the  prisoner,  with  a 
written  order  on  General  Clark,  Lidian  agent  at 
St.  Louis  for  an  additional  one  hundred  dollars  on 
his  arrival  there. 

Black  Partridge  being  provided  with  i)resents, 
and  accomj»anied  by  a  half-breed  from  Peoria, 
mounted  their  ponies  and  started  on  their  mission 
of  mercv.  On  arriving  at  the  Lidian  villa^i'e, 
they  found  Lieutenant  Helm  closely  guardetl  by 
his  captors,  and  sutlering  from  a  wound  which  he 
received  at  the  massacre.  When  the  old  chief 
entered  the  lodge.  Lieutenant  Helm  threw  his 
arms  around  his  neck  and  cried  like  a  child.  He 
knew  that  Black  Partridge  had  rescued  his  wife, 
and  saved  the  life  of  his  tather-in-law  (John  Kin- 
zie)  with  his  family,  and  in  him  he  saw  u  prospect 
of  Ilia  own  rescue.* 


•The  wife  of  Lieutenant  Holm  wius  a  stop-daughter  of  John 
Klnzif!,  an  ImUau  tnnlfr,  who  came  to  Cliloigo  in  Imii.  Kinzle 
wa8  a  haU-hroth«'rof  Tlionias  Forsyth, of  IVorla,  and  latln'r-ln- 
law  of  Mrs.  Kinzio,  who  puhUshetl  a  book  on  tlie  early  history 
«»f  (,'hlcaKo. 

The  wife  of  Captain  Hoiiid  was  a  sister  of  C'aptaln  Wells;  (he 
latter  was  ralse< I  anions;  the  Indians,  adopted  tht-ir  dress,  eus- 
toiuH  and  language,  auu  lu8t  hint  lllu  at  the  iJhicago  niasHiicre. 

M 


208      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF   ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


Black  Partridge  called  the  chiefs  and  warriors 
together  and  laid  the  presents  before  them,  say- 
ing all  these  articles  should  be  theirs,  with  an 
additional  one  hundred  dollars  in  silver  if  they 
would  send  their  prisoner  to  General  Clark  at  St. 
Louis.  After  a  long  parley  the  Indians  rejected 
the  j)roposition,  contending  that  the  ransom  of- 
fered was  not  sutHcient. 

A  short  time  before  Captain  Ileald  had  been  a 
prisoner  at  this  village,  and  the  Indians  sent  him 
to  St.  Joseph  in  charge  of  three  warriors,  to  be 
liberated,  but  the  pay  received  in  exchange  for  him 
was  so  snudl  that  the  warriors  were  sent  back  to 
reclaim  their  prisoner,  but  Captain  Ileald  having 
been  sent  to  Detroit  they  failed  to^^et  him. 

The  Indians  refused  to  release  Lieutenant  Helm 
unless  the  ransom  was  increased,  so  Black  Part- 
ridge offered  them  hispoiiy,  riiie,  and  a  large  gold 
ring  wbicli  he  wore  in  his  nose.  This  proposition 
was  accepted,  and  Lieutenant  Helm,  with  the  half- 
breed,  accompanied  b}'  a  i)etty  chief,  all  mounted 
on  ponies,  started  the  next  day  for  St.  Louis. 

It  was  thought  best  to  take  the  prisoner  to  St. 
Louis  to  be  set  at  liberty,  as  the  Indians  might 
think  if  broui^ht  to  Peoria  that  the  French  were 
in  league  with  the  Americans,  and  thereby  create 
a  i'eeling  against  them. 

Black  Partridge  accompanied  Lieutenant  Helm 


INDIANS    ATTACKING    THE    SETTLEMENTS. 


209 


and  liis  conductors  one  day's  journey  on  tlieir 
way,  and  tlien  started  across  tlie  country  for  his 
village  on  the  Illinois  river. 

It  was  late  at  ni^lit,  very  dark,  and  the  rain 
pouring  down  in  torrents,  as  the  old  chief,  on  foot 
and  alone,  plodded  his  way  through  the  thick 
river  tind)er  towai'd  his  home,  where  heex})ected 
to  be  warmly  greeted  by  his  family  and  friends, 
but  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  The  village 
had  disappeared — not  a  lodge  nor  a  human  being 
could  be  found — nothing  remained  on  its  site  but 
the  charred  poles  ot  which  the  lodges  were  con- 
structed. A  pack  ot  hungry  wolves  which  had 
been  feeding  on  dead  bodies,  ran  away  at  his 
approach,  and  their  howling  iluring  the  night 
added  gloom  and  terror  to  the  surrounding  scene. 
Black  Partridge  drew  his  blanket  around  him, 
and  with  a  sorrowful  heart  seated  hiniselt  on  the 
ground  to  await  the  approach  of  day.  Next 
morning  he  found  among  the  dead  his  favorite 
daughter,  with  her  infant  son  clasped  in  her  arms, 
both  stiff  in  death.  On  the  site  of  the  village, 
and  in  the  swamp  near  by,  he  found  the  renuiins 
of  many  of  his  triends,  among  whom  was  an  old 
squaw  of  ninety  winters. 


!■  a 


i'    : 

■■      ! 


INDIANS  ATTACKING  THE  SETTLEMENTS. 


Alter  the  destruction  of  Black  Partridire's  vil- 


A       ^ 


1 


210      FKBNOH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  BIYEB. 

lajj^c,  his  band   left  tlie   Illinois   river,   some   of 
whom  found  refuge  on   Bureau  creek  and  others 
on  Green   river,  where  they   remained   until  the 
followini!:  cumnier.     A  ])arty  of  warriors,  headed 
by  Black  Partrid^'e,  returned  to  tlie  village  some 
days  after  it  was  destroyed,  for  the  purpose  of 
burying  the  dead,  and  found  their  remains  ])artly 
devoured  by  wolves.     The  warriors  engage<l  in  a 
winter  hunt,  according  to  their  custom,  but  Black 
Partridge  traveled  over  the  country,  visiting  dif- 
ferent villages,  and   holding   council    with    their 
chiefs  in  frder  to  enlist  them   in  his   cause,     lie 
was  now  t)l(l — his  head  whitened  by  the  snows  of 
seventy  winters — still  his  figure  was  erect  and  his 
step  firm.     Age  had  not  dimmed  the  fire  of  his 
eves,  nor  destroyed  the  ambition  of   his  vouth. 
He  had  lung  l)een  a  friend  to  the  whites,  and  had 
done  everything  in  his  power  to  prevent  the  mas- 
sacre at  Cliicago.     113  had  saved  the  life  of  Mrs. 
Helm,  at  the  risk  of  his  own,  and   had   collected 
around  him  a  few  faithful  friends  to  guard  the 
house  of  John   Kinzie,  and   thereby   rescued  his 
family  as  well  as  other  prisoners  from  massacre. 
lie  had    traveled   a  long  way  to  the   Kankakee 
village,  and  given  his  |)ony,  rifle  an<l  ring  to  ran- 
som   Lieutenant    Helm,    and    while    tired    and 
hu!igry  he  returned  to  find  his  home  desolated, 
and  his  friends  murdered  or  driven  away.     Not- 


INDIANS    ArrAOKING    THK    SETTM5MBNTS.        211 


withstaiuliiiiz:  Black  Partridi^i!  Itad  done  all  tliis, 
tlie  whites  made  war  auaiiist  him,  burned  his 
town,  destroyed  his  e(»rii,  carried  oil"  liis  ponies, 
and  killed  about  thirty  of  his  peo[)ie,  amonn-  wliom 
were  some  of  his  kinsmen,  and  he  now  lived  only 
for  revenge. 

On  the  tbllowinn'  summer  Black  Partridge, 
with  about  three  hun<lred  warriors  mounted  on 
ponies,  left  for  the  frontier  settlements  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State.  They  went  within 
thirty  miles  of  the  settlement,  and  secreted  them- 
selves in  the  thick  timber  of  Shoal  creek,  now  in 
Bond  county.  From  here  they  sent  out  snuill 
war  parties  to  attack  the  settlers  and  kill  de- 
fenseless women  and  children.  The  people  were 
greatly  alarmed  at  these  depredatiojis;  many  fled 
from  their  homes  and  sought  safety  at  Cahokia 
and  Kaskaskia;  others  built  temporary  torts  to 
shield  themselves  from  the  tomahawk  and  scalp- 
ing knives  of  these  ruthless  savages.  It  is  said  a 
hait-breed,  dressed  as  a  white  man,  acted  as  a  spy, 
visiting  .different  settlements  and  inform ied  the 
Indians  of  the  most  exposed  })oints.  Through 
this  spy  the  Indians  learned  that  an  expedition 
was  about  to  be  sent  against  their  villages  on  the 
Illinois  river,  so  they  broke  up  their  camp  and 
left  for  their  homes. 


i%l 


1< 


iiii 

Hi 


CHAPTER  XVITI. 


h 


I » 


THE  FRENCH  AT  PEORIA.  REGARDED  AS  ENEMIES. 

"While  the  iiiliabitaiits  of  Peoria  were  quietly 
pursuiniz;  tli'nr  daily  avocation  of  tannin*^,  hunt- 
ing and  trading  with  the  Indians,  being  as  they 
supposed  at  pence  with  all  the  world,  a  plot  was 
laid  for  their  destruction.  Being  located  in  the 
midst  of  a  wildcri^ess  country,  two  hundred  miles 
from  the  nearest  American  settlement,  and  hav- 
ing but  little  intorcourse  with  the  civilized  world, 
they  would  not  have  known  that  war  between 
the  United  Statiis  and  Great  Britain  existed  if 
they  had  iiut  learned  the  fiict  from  the  neighbor- 
ing Indians. 

Although  the  French  at  Peoria  had  lived  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  government 
for  thirty-four  years,  they  had  never  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance,  acknowledged  its  power,  nor 
paid  tax  to  its  support.  They  were  a  foreign 
people,  speaking  a  difi^erent  language,  with  habits 
and  customs  peculiar  to  themselves,  and  all  their 


.trr: 


TUB  FRENCH  HEUARDEL)  AS  ENEMIES. 


213 


tnulo  and  intercourse  was  with  the  Frencli  citizens 
of  Canada. 

The  residents  of  Peoria  had   taken  no  part  in 
tlie  war,  as  it  was  afterwards  ])r()ven,  l>ut  never- 
theless   they    were   charged    witii    assistinjjj    the 
Indians  by  8U])]»lying  tlieni  with  arms.     Report 
said  that   they   were   bringing  munitions  ol    war 
from  Canada,  and  selling  them  to  the  Indians  to 
enable  these  savages  to  make  raids  on  the  frontier 
settlements.     It  was  also  alleged  that   they   had 
sent  five  horses  over  to  the  Sac  village,  near  R.)ck 
Island,  to  ])ack  lead  for  the  Indians,  and  this  lead 
was  paid  for  in  goods   furnished    by   Peoria  mer- 
chants.    But  the  most  damaging  ot  all  the  evil 
reports    ni    circulation,    and    which    caused    the 
greatest  feeling  of  resentment  among  the  peo})le, 
was  that   of   cattle  stealing.     It   being  reported 
and  believed  by  people  everywhere  that  Captain 
John  Baptiste  Maillet,  the  chief  military  m;ui  of 
Peoria,    with   a    number   of   followers  had  been 
stealing  cattle  from  the  Wood  river  settlement,  in 
Madison  county,  to  feed  the   Indian  army   then 
collected  at  Gomo's  village.     These  reports  were 
afterwards  shown  to  be  false,  and  instead  ot  Ca}> 
tain  Maillet  being  a  cattle  thief,  as  reported,  he 
was  rewarded  by  an  act  of  Congress  for  his  loy- 
alty to  the  United  States  government. 

The  evil  reports  in  circulation  about  die  I^'rench 


ife.*" 


i 


m 

ii 

i 


214        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVKR. 


I  ■   ' 


at  Peoria  were  {generally  lieliuvod,  and  Governor 
P^dwanlH,  HU])posing  they  were  true,  called  lor 
volunteers  in  order  to  send  an  armed  force  ai^ainat 
tliem.  About  two  hundre<l  men  resj)onded  to 
the  call,  who  were  placed  under  the  command  ot 
Ca])tain  Crai«^,  and  rendezvoused  at  Shawnec- 
town.  FoJir  keel-boats  were  prepared,  with  ritle 
ball  proof  planking,  mounted  with  cannon,  and 
filled  with  armed  soldiers.  These  boats  left 
Shawneetown  early  in  October,  and  arrived  at 
Peoria  on  the  6th  of  November.  The  iiduibitants 
of  Peoria  were  much  surprised  to  see  four  armed 
boats  hind  at  thoir  wharf,  as  no  large  cralt  had 
ever  reached  tli:ir  place  before. 

The  following  ;icGouut  of  the  arrival  of  these 
boats,  and  the  burnin<j^  of  Peoria,  are  principally 
taken  from  the  statements  of  Antoine  LeClair 
and  Ilypolite  Pilette,  who  were  present,  the 
hitter  being  a  bov  at  the  time.  LeClair  was  a 
half-breed,  and  acquired  much  celebrity  in  after 
life  as  the  proprietor  of  Davenport,  Iowa.  Pilette 
is  now  living  on  the  American  Bottom,  near 
Prairie  de  Roeher,  and  to  whom  previous  refer- 
ence has  been  made. 

BURNING  OF  PEORIA. 

On  Sunday  morning,  November  5th,  1812,  as 
the  people  of  Peoria  were  assembled  at  church, 


BURNINQ    OF    PBoUIA. 


215 


as 


('n^!i<:;c<l  ill  sayiiii,'  mass,  tlicv  wore  startlod  hyt.lic 
report  of  a  camioii.  The  eongpe«j^ati()n,  })artly 
through  f'riglit  an<l  partly  by  curiosity,  ran  out  of 
the  c'liureh,  when  they  diseovered  lour  aruuid 
boats  m  tlu;  l;ike  under  full  sail.  On  coming  o}»- 
posite  the  town,  the  boats  rounded  to  atid  lauded 
at  the  wharf.  Father  Racine  came  down  from 
the  pulpit,  and  in  his  loni;'  black  robe,  with  his 
l)ald  head  uncovered,  started  for  the  landing,  fol- 
lowed by  all  his  congregation,  men,  women  and 
childi'cn.  Here  they  were  met  by  Captain  Craig 
and  some  of  his  men,  who  had  landed  from  the 
b(jats.  Thomas  Forsyth,  who  spoke  English,  in- 
quired of  the  connnanding  otHcer,  Captain  Craig, 
the  object  of  his  mission,  but  he  evaded  answer- 
ing the  question,  and  in  return  denuinded  of  the 
citizens  a  supply  of  meat  and  vegetables  for  hia 
men,  which  were  furnished  them. 

The  soldiers  landed  from  the  boats  and  scattered 
thi'ough  the  town  in  search  of  plunder,  and  com- 
mitted many  depredations  on  the  people.  They 
bnike  open  the  store  of  P^elix  P'ontain,  in  which 
Antolne  LcClair  was  a  clerk,  and  took  therefrom 
two  casks  of  wine,  and  drank  their  contents. 
Many  of  the  soldiers  got  drunk,  forced  their  way 
into  dwellings,  insulting  women,  carrying  off 
eatables,  blaidvots,  and  everything  which  they 
took  a  fancy  to.     It  was  long  after  dark  before 


216       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS   (»F    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


m 


f 

!  ^  ^ 

3 

!;f 

m     t; 

11 


1^ 


il 


-Jf 


11-' 


Captain  Craig  siiccecMled  in  gettin*;'  his  drunkiMi 
disorderly  crew  on  hoard,  when  tlie  hoats  were 
puslied  olf  from  sliore  to  ])revent  further  de})re- 
dations  on  the  citizens.  The  boats  hiy  at  anclior 
off  in  the  lake  in  order  to  jn-cvent  the  soldiers 
from  again  visiting  the  town,  as  well  as  a  precau- 
tion against  an  attack  from  tlie  Indians. 

During  the  night  a  high  wind  arose,  and  to  es- 
cape the  waves  in  the  lake  the  boats  raised  their 
anchors  and  drop{)ed  down  into  the  cliannel  of 
the  river,  about  one-half  mile  below  the  town, 
where  they  remained  until  morning.  About 
daylight,  eight  or  ten  guns  were  fired  in  quick 
succession"  in  the  thick  river  timljer  close  to  the 
boats.  Captain  Craig  thinking  that  they  were 
attacked  by  Indians,  ordered  the  boats  to  push 
out  into  the  channel  of  the  I'iver,  while  the  can- 
nons were  brought  to  bear  and  several  shots  tired 
into  the  timber  in  order  to  dislodge  the  su})posed 
Indians. 

About  daybreak  on  the  morning  of  the  sup- 
posed attack  on  the  boats,  a  pai'ty  of  French 
at  the  village,  consisting  of  eight  or  ten  in  num- 
ber, went  out  in  the  river  tind)er  to  shoot  some 
beeves.  The  cattle  being  mixed  with  l-ultalo 
would  live  duriuij-the  winter  without  feedinii- and 


be 


canie 


•tb 


ild 


partly   wikl,   so    tney    were 


th 


fre 


juently 


hunted    down    in    the   woods  the  same  as  deer, 


BDRNINO  OF  I'EOKIA. 


217 


TIlis  [»arl}'  of  luniterH  liad  attacked  the  herd  in 
their  lair,  near  where  the  hoats  of  Captain  Craii^ 
were  at  anchor,  siiot  three  beeves,  and  h[id  com- 
menced skiniiiiii^  them  wlicu  the  'tind)er  was 
i'i(hlled  with  cannon  shot.  The  hunters  became 
frii^'htene*],  left  their  beeves  undressed,  and  in 
great  haste  returned  to  town  without  having  the 
slightest  idea  from  what  cause  these  hostile  de- 
monstrations were  made  by  the  trooi)s. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  among  the  otficers, 
all  of  whom  w(>re  in  favor  (tf  burning  the  town, 
and  taking  the  men  prisoners  of  war,  as  they  had 
without  doubt,  ]iointe<i  (»ut  the  hx'ation  of  the 
boats  to  the  Indians,  and  therefore  were  accessory 
to  the  attack.  The  boats  were  run  up  to  the 
town,  when  Ca])tain  Craig,  \»ith  an  armed  force 
visited  each  hnu.-e  and  took  all  the  heads  of  fam- 
ilies prisoners.  Some  of  the  men  were  still  in 
bed,  and  not  allowed  time  to  dress,  but  hur- 
ried off  to  the  boats  with  their  clothing  in  their 
hands,  A  torch  was  apj>Hed  t(»  every  house,  and 
these  with  their  contents  were  burned. 

Women  and  children,  with  wild  screams  es- 
caped from  the  burning  buildings,and  like  a  herd 
()[  fi'i'jhtened  deer  collected  on  a  \  acant  lot  back 
of  fhe  town.  Tlic  church,  which  contained  a 
ii'oldt'ii  inui'.!;e  and  a  crucifix,  with  other  valuable 
religious  emblems,  a  present  from  the  I3isho[)  of 


I 


1-F^ 


OfTM 


smm 


■M 


1 


It 


, 


218        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS    RIVER. 

Quebec,  was  burned.  Tlie  wiiid-iiiill,  wliieli 
stood  on  tbe  bank  of  tlie  lake  and  tilled  with 
^rain  and  flour  belonging  to  tbe  citizens,  was 
burned,  as  well  as  stables,  stock-yards,  corn-cribs, 
&c. 

Felix  Fontiiiii,  Michael  LaCroix,  Antoine  Des 
Champs  and  Thomas  Forsyth,  all  of  whom  were 
traders,  with  their  stores  tilled  with  goods,  which 
was  consumed  by  the  flames.  An  old  man  named 
Benit,  formerly  a  trader,  who  had  saved  a  large 
amount  of  gold  by  the  toil  of  half  a  century, 
which  he  had  laid  away  for  old  age.  This  gold 
was  secreted  in  his  dwelling,  but  finding  it  on  tire 
he  rushed  in  to  save  his  treasure,  and  perished  in 
the  flames,  and  his  bones  were  found  among  the 
ashes  on  the  following  spring  by  a  party  of  hunt- 
ers who  visited  Peoria.  Mrs.  LaCroix,  a  lady  of 
refinement  and  of  great  personal  attraction,  who 
in  after  years  became  the  wife  of  Gover?ior  liey- 
nolds,  being  ah)ne  with  four  small  children  when 
her  hoiise  was  set  on  fire,  a])])caled  to  the  soldiers 
to  save  the  clothes  of  herself  ami  little  ones,  Init 
her  appeal  was  in  vain,  and  with  her  children  only 
she  escaped  from  the  burning  building. 

There  is  an  incident  connected  with  the  burn- 
ing of  Peoria  mIucIi  to  some  extent  exjdains  the 
barbarous  conduct  of  the  soldiers,  and  somewhat 
palliates  this  offense  against  humanity.     About 


i  li 


BURNING  OF  PEORIA 


219 


wilJi 

was 

•ribs. 


Des 


two  months  before  Peoria  ^was  burned,  General 
Howard,  then  stationed  at  Portage  du  Sioux,  sent 
one  of  liis  sohh'ers,  a  youn«j^  half-breed  named 
Sni]>kinp,  to  Peoria,  in  order  to  ascertain  it"  the 
French  were  assistinji  the  Indians  in  carrvini;  on 
a  war  a^^ainst  tlie  settlements,  as  had  been  re- 
])orted.  This  messenger,  bv  eourtesy,  was  called 
Howard's  express,  but  in  tact  was  a  spy,  learning 
all  he  could  from  the  citizens  without  etting  his 
business  be  knim'ii  This  young  sca]>ograce,  in- 
stead of  returning  to  the  army  and  re}»orting  the 
true  state  of  affaii's,  according  to  orders,  became 
enamored  with  a  girl  and  prolonged  his  stay  until 
theari'ival  of  Captain  Craig.  And  to  esca[)e  pun- 
ishment for  disobeying  orders,  he  reported  to  the 
troops  under  Captain  Craig  that  he  was  detained 
by  tlie  people  of  Peoria  against  his  will,  being  a 
prisoner  in  their  hands,  which  was  afterwards 
shown  to  be  false.  If  tiiis  messenger  had  re- 
turned to  the  army,  and  reported  as  he  was  ordered 
to  do,  Craig's  ex])e(litinn  would  have  been  aban- 
doned, and  the  destruction  of  Peoria  averted. 

A  short  time  before  Peoria  was  burned,  Thom- 
as P'orsyth  was  a]>pointed  a  government  agent, 
but  this  ap]>ointmcnt  was  ke[)t  a  secret  by  the 
departnuMit  at  Washington,  as  it  was  thought,  it 
known,  it  W(>ul(l  lessen  his  inlluetict;  with  the  In- 
dians,   and     probably    pi-(;ju<b'('e     his    townsmen 


iniiHiiarfftiai 


i. 


i 


220       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

agaiiKStliiui.  Wlion  Forsyth  \va8  made;  a  prisoner 
he  sliowed  his  conuiiissioii  under  the  United 
States  seal  to  Ca}Hain  Craig,  hut  the  inere(hdou8 
captain  pronounced  it  a  forijerv. 

When  the  desti'uctiun  el' Peoria  was  coni|)ieted 
the  boats  started  down  the  river  on  their  return 
lionicward,  carry in;^  witli  them  all  the  men  as 
prisoners  of  war.  Two  miles  below  the  }>resent 
site  of  Alton,  in  the  thick  river  timber,  these 
prisoners  were  set  at  liberty,  widioiit  tents,  pro- 
visions, or  means  of  returning- to  their  families. 

The  women  and  chihh-en  having-  been  left  at 
the  burned  town  without  food  or  slielter,  were 
therefore  in  a  sulferinj^  condition,  and  without 
assistance  they  could  not  be  relieved  from  their 
lielpless  situation.  It  was  now  late  in  the  tall, 
the  skv  overcast  with  yrav  clouds,  and  the  cold 
Novend)er  winds  howled  throui:;h  the  forest  trees. 
AVitli  high  winds  were  S(pialls  of  snow,  and  the 
loarinij  and  lashinif  of  waves  in  the  hd^e  caused 
mothers  to  draw  their  infants  closer  to  their 
bosoms  to  protect  them  tnun  the  inclement 
weather.  To  these  destitute  hel[)less  beings  all 
was  dark  and  cheerless;  the  lamentations  of 
mothers  and  cries  vi'  children  were  heard  far 
away,  and  touched  the  heart  of  a  symi)athizing 
friend,  although  a  savage.  While  in  the  nndst 
of  trouble  they  discovered  alone  Indian  walking 


BURNING  OF  PEORIA. 


221 


leisurely  along  the  beach  o4'  the  lak'e,  and  with  a 
iirm  step  ap[)i'oac'hing  them.  He  carried  a  ritie 
on  his  shoulder,  a  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife 
in  liis  belt,  and  his  face  was  i)ainted  in  many  col- 
ors. Notwithstanding  iie  was  disguised  by  paint, 
they  recognized  in  the a])])roaching  Indian  Gomo, 
a  friendly  chief,  who  had  a  village  where  Chilli- 
cothe  now  stands. 

On  the  a})proach  of  Captain  Craig's  forces,  the 
inhabitants    of    Gonio's   villaize   tied    from    their 
homes  and  secreted  themselves  in  a  thick  grove 
of  timber  a  few  miles  west  of   the   river.     Bat 
Gomo,  with  two  of  his  wai'riors,  remained  in  the 
heavy  timber  near  the  lake  watching  the   move 
ments  of  the  soldiers,  and  when  the  boats  departed 
down  the  river  they  came  forth  from  their  hiding 
})lace  to  assist  their  friends  in  distress.     Gomo  and 
Ids  warriors  furnished   provisions  and  shelter  for 
the  destitute  women  and  children,  and  pntvided 
them  canoes  (those  belonging  to  the  French  hav- 
ing been  destroyed  by  the  soldiers)  to  descend 
the  river.      When  supplied  with  an  outfit  for  the 
journey,  the  women  with  their  little   one  started 
down  the  river,  cam])ing  each  night  on  its  banks, 
without  tents  or  shelter  from  the  cold   night  air. 
After   many    days    ot    hardshi[)    and    exposure, 
drenched  by  rain   and   sullering  froui  cold,  they 
reached  Cahokia,  wlu;re  they   were  provided  Ibr 


1 


.^mmumamM 


li 


222      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF   ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


It  '<i 


I   a 


<ni  < 


m 


c; 


by  their  eouritrynicn,  and  afterwards  joinud  by 
their  husbands  and  t'atliers. 

It  has  been  stated  tliat  Ca[)tuin  Craig  took  the 
women  and  children  on  the  boats  with  the  men, 
and  set  tliem  all  at  lil)erty  on  the  east  hank  ot  tlie 
Mississijipi  river.  But  this  is  incorrect,  as  tlie  re- 
port ai)])lied  to  a  few  families  oidy.  Tlie  family 
of  Tliomas  Forsyth,  and  perliaps  one  or  two  otli- 
ers  were  taken  on  the  ])oats,  but  I  am  informed 
by  Rene  LaCroix  and  Ilvpolite  Pilette,  who  were 
present,  (being-  hoys  at  the  time,)  tliat  the  families 
to  whicli  tliey  belonged,  with  many  others,  went 
down  the  river  to  Cahokia  in  bark  canoes  furn- 
ished by  tlie  Indian  chief  Goino,  as  previously 
stated. 

Captain  Craig  has  been  greatly  villi fied  for 
burning  Peoria,  but  it  must  be  recollected  that 
lie  acted  under  the  orders  of  Governor  Edwards, 
who  ap])roved  of  his  conduct,  and  afterwards  ap- 
pointed him  to  an  important  otKce. 

It  appears  Gt>vernor  Edwards  was  misled  by 
false  re])orts,  which  caused  him  to  make  war  on 
innocent  people,  and  therefore  should  not  be 
censured  for  doing  that  which  he  believed,  at  the 
lime,  to  be  his  duty. 


CIIAPTEK  XIX. 


DESCENDANTS  OF  FRENCH  SETTLERS  AT  PEORIA. 


The  descendants  of  tlie  French  wlio  were  horn 
Mt  Peoria,  only  tfiree  are  now  livin<*',  and  they  of 
course  are  far  advanced  in   life.     I   visited   these 
persons,  and  listened  to  an  account  of  tiieir  early 
recollections  of  Peoria,  as   well    as  the  traditions 
of   their  ancestors.      One  of    these   descendants, 
Rohert  Forsyth,  lives  on  a  fai-ni   in   Missouri,  six 
miles  west  of  St.  Louis.     He  is  a  son  of  Thotnas 
Forsyth,  who  was  a  trader  at  l*eoria,  and  held  a 
commission  of  an  Indian  agent  fi-om  the  govern- 
ment wlien  the  town  was  destroyed.     Alter   the 
destruction  of  Peoria,  Forsyth  was  apjxnnted  an 
agent  for  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  at  Rock  Island,  and 
held  that  position  for  many  years.     He  was  one  of 
the  claimants  lor  the  land  on  which  Peoria  stands, 
and  his  son  Rohert,  (ahove  referred  to,)  prosecut- 
ed these  claims  against  the  occupants,  and  realized 
a  lai'ge  sum  of  money  out  of  them. 
N 


III 


!'  ! 


224      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF   ILLINOIS  KIVKR. 


vl 


Rene  LaCroix,  aiiotliur  of  tliedesctMidaiits,  lives 
in  Bullevillc,  jukI  like  Forsyili  obtained  a  large 
8inri  of  money  out  of  the  French  claims,  IJis 
father,  Miciiaol  LaCh'oix,  a  trader  at  Peoria,  was 
t>n  his  way  to  Canada  with  a  pirogue  loaded 
with  furs  when  the  town  was  hurned.  While  at 
Montreal  he  heani  that  the  Yankees  had  hui-ned 
Peoria  and  killed  all  its  inhahitants,  Hrnoni>' whoni 
were  his  wife  and  children.  With  his  h^a-t  tilled 
M'ilh  reven<fe,  he  joine<l  the  British  army,  l)e- 
came  an  otlicei',  and  |»articij)ated  in  many  of  the 
hattles  of  I  he  wai".  Aflci'  the  war  was  over,  he 
learned  that  his  family  were  still  li\inia,  and  at' 
Cahokia,  so  he  came  west  to  j(»in  them.  On  the 
following  year  Mr.  LaC'roix  died,  and  a  young 
law3'er  of  Cahokia,  named  John  Reynolds,  after- 
wards Governor   of    Illinois,  married  his  widow. 

IIy])olite  Pilett.e  is  a  son  ol  Louis  Pilette,  one 
of  the  French  land  claimants,  born  at  Peoria  in 
1791),  and  is  now  living'  on  the  American  Bottom. 
lie  claims  to  he  a  urcat  jLi^randson  of  Captain 
Richard  Pilette,  who  in  tlic  year  1^86  l)nilt  Le 
Fort  Des  Miami.-.,  on  liutl'alo  Rock,  and  has  now 
in  hhs  i)ossession  the  sword,  eagle  and  e[>aulets 
worn  l)y  thai  distinguished  personage. 

While  speaking  of  the  hurning  of  Peoria  in 
Iyl2  hy  Captain  Ci'aig,  he  said:  "()n  a  cold 
November  morning,  when  ahoy  of  thirteen  yi^urs  . 


MR8.  BESSON  8  NARRATIVE. 


225 


of  age,  I  was  driven  from  lionie  witliout  coat,  bat 
or  shoes  ;  niv  mother  sick  with  the  aii;ue,  and 
with  an  infant  in  lierarms,  was  compelled  to  leave 
lier  bed,  protected  from  the  cold  winds  only  by 
an  Indian  blanket,  while  the  honse  with  all  its 
contents  was  devonred  by  the  flames.  My  father 
a  prisoner,  my  mother  sick,  my  brothers  and  sis- 
ters almost  nuked,  without  food  or  shelter,  and 
not  a  dwellinii;  of  a  white  man  withiti  two  hun- 
dred miles.  Thus  we  were  turned  out  of  doors 
to  starve  and  freeze,  but  fortunately  were  res- 
cued by  some  friendly  Indians." 

Three  days  after  Peoria  was  burned,  Mrs.  Pi- 
lette,  with  her  children,  were  put  in  a  canoe  by 
the  Indians,  and  with  her  family  started  down 
the  river.  Aiter  six  days  of  exposure,  suffering 
from  cold  and  hunger,  they  reached  Cahokia, 
where  they  were  provided  for  by  their  country- 
men. 

While  S[)eaking  of  the  past,  Pilette  became 
much  excited,  his  eyes  flashed  with  anger,  his 
voice  was  raised  to  a  high  key,  and  in  broken 
p]no-li8h  he  denounced  tlie  barban»us  acts  of  Caiv 
tain  Craig,  and  from  thai  time  to  the  present,  said 
he  "  I  hate  Yaidvces." 


^! 


MliS.  BESSON  S  NAliRATIVK. 

While    in   East    St.    Louis,  I   heard  of  an  old 


If  'i! 


I' I 


'^if 


i: 


I 


226       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

lady  hy  the  iiuiiie  of  Mr«.  Bcsrioii,  wlio   was  one 
of  the  captives  at  tlie   Cliica^o  massacre,  and  is 
j)robahlj  the  only  one  now    livin;^'.      I   called  on 
tliis  hidy  and  listened  to  her  nari'ntive  relatinii'  to 
this   aflair,  wliicli   to   nie    was    very    interesting-. 
She  said  lier  eaily    recollections  were  associated 
with   Chica^ijfo   river,    Lake   Michigan,    and    P'ort 
Deai'born,  hy  the  side  of  wliich  she  s])ent   many 
of  her  childhood   days,  and  gathered    flowers  on 
the  wild  prairie,  now  covered  hy  the  ^reat  metro- 
polis of  tlie  west.      Her  maiden  name   was  Mary 
Lcc,  daii^i;'hter  of  Churies  Let',  who  with  his  fam- 
ily came  to  Fort  Dearborn  soon  after  it  w.'i.<  built. 
Their  dwelling   stood   on    the   beach  of  the  lake 
near  the  fort,  and  back  of   it  was   a   small  garden 
enclosed  by  a  rail  fence.      For  a  number  of  years 
her  father,  Mr.  Lee,  was  engaged  in   agricultural 
])ursnitvS,  selling   the   products  oi  his  farm  to  the 
garrison  at  high  rates. 

Mr.  Lee  made  a  large  farm  at  a  grove  of  tim- 
ber on  the  south  l)ranch  of  Chicngo  river,  four 
miles  from  its  mouth,  wheie  Bridgejxut  is  now 
located.  The  hmd  near  the  lake,  being  either  wet 
or  sandy,  I'endered  it  ur/tit  for  farming  [)ur])oses, 
therefore,  it  was  necessary  to  go  uj)  the  river  to 
make  a  farm,  where  the  prairie  was  more  rolling 
and  the  soil  rich.  The  communication  between 
Mr.    Lee's    residence   and    his   farm    dui'ini'-    the 


^^ 


):  I 


MR8.  n^:saoN  h  naruative. 


sj)riiii>-  ai»<l  suiiiinor,  \vn>  pi'iiiciprtlly  l)_v  ii  caiior 
oil  tlic  river,  as  tlie  road  coiinectiiig  thum  cross's 
H    tlat    prairie  covered   with   water   much   of  the 

time. 

Mr.  Lee  hiiilt  two  cahins  on  his  farm,  atid  em- 
i)h)yed  a  niimher  of  })erson8  to  woi'k  the  Land. 
For  some  years  tlie  grove  with  its  surroundings, 
was  known  as  "  Lee's  Place,"  afterwards  called 
Ilardscrable,  and  it  wa^  here  the  Indians  killed 
and  scalped  two  jiersons.  White  and  DeVow, 
on  tin/ 7th  of  A[»nl,  lbl2,  an  account  of  which 
is  <;'iven  in  Mrs.  Kinzie's  early  history  of  Chica^-o. 

At  the  time  of  the  Chicago  nuL-.sicre,  Mr.  Lee's 
fanuly  consisted  of  his  wife,  an  infant  two  months 
old,  his  sou  John  of  sixteen  years,  Mary,  now 
Mrs.  Besson,  the  subject  (»f  our  sketch,  twelve, 
Lillie,  ten,  and  two  small   hoys. 

When  the  troops  left  Chicago  for  Fort  Wayne, 
Mr.  Lee  with  his  family  accompanied  them,  tak- 
inii;  with  him  all  his  horses,  hut  leaving  behind  a 
large  herd  of  cattle,  which  were  on  the  following 
<lav  shot  by  the  Lidians.  Mrs.  Lee  with  her  in- 
fant  and  two  youngest  children  were  in  a  covered 
waaon,  while  the  two  girls  were  on  horseback  ; 
and  all  followed  the  army  along  the  beach  of  the 
lake,  on  their  march  toward  Fort  Wayne  on  the 
Wabash. 

Little  Lillie  was  a  very  hansome   child,  a  great 


iti 


'^."w^i'-Vipr  < 


li 


228      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  oF    ILLINOIS  RIVKK. 

pt't  Hiiioii^  the  fscjldicrs  ;iii<l  citizens  altont  tlie 
fort,  hut  sIr!  never  i»efore  appeared  so  heuiititul, 
as  on  the  morning  they  h'ft  Cliicano.  She  was 
mounted  on  a  hirge  ;;ray  liorse,  and  to  jireveut 
her  from  fulling  (dl"  or  being  thrown,  was  tied  fast 
to  the  saddle.  She  wore  a  white  ruHled  dress, 
trimmed  with  ]tiid<  rihhon,  a  hlack  jockey  hat  with 
a  white  plume  on  one  side.  As  her  horse  pranced 
and  champed  the  hits  at  the  sound  ol  martial 
music,  liltle  Lillie,  in  a  (jueerdy  manner  sat  in 
her  saddle  (^hatting  gaily  with  her  sister  Mary, 
who  rode  by  her  side.  As  the  soldiers  threw 
kisses  at  her  sh<^  would  retui'u  them  in  lit  i'  mci-ry 
glee,  talking  aiul  hiughing  mirthfully  with  many 
of  her  ae(piainlaiices.  Her  young  heart;  was  made 
happy  by  the  excitement  of  the  morning,  and  had 
no  warning  of  the  awful  fate  that  awaited  hei', 
less  than  one  hour  afterwards. 

Soon  tlie  guns  of  live  hundred  savages  were 
raised  against  the  troops,  and  by  their  murderous 
tire  a  large  ])ortion  of  the  brave  band  were 
stricken  dowMi. 

During  the  battle,  little  Lillie  was  wounded 
and  fell  from  her  seat,  but  still  hung  by  the  cord 
which  bound  her  to  the  saddle.  While  in  this 
condition  the  frightened  horse  ran  back  and  forth 
until  he  was  caught  b}'  an  Indian,  and  the  child 
rescued  from  her  perilous  situation.     When   the 


MRS.    nK88oN  a  XAKRATIVK 


229 


iKittlu  was  ()V(!r  Waiipckcr,  a  chict'  wlnt  liad  »»t'ti'ii 
hciMi  at  Mr.  Loe's  house,  and  trotfiMl  littlo  liillio 
(HI  his  knee,  was  imicli  i,n'i('\('(l  to  see  lior  tliiis 
m'ouikUmI.  as  lie  1(»v(m1  tlie  ('liild  as  tlioUi;-li  kIic 
were  Ids  own  dauiiliti'r.  On  cxannidii;:'  Lillic's 
wound  and  rinding-  it  ni(.rtai,  the  chief  {)Ut  an 
end  to  hei'  sulVerini!;*  with  a  sti-oke  of  Ids  toma- 
hawk. Waui)ekee  afterwards  said,  ti»  toinahaw  1\ 
little  Lillie,  was  the  hnivk'st  tlnni^''  he  ever  did, 
hut  he  eouhl  not  hear  to  see  her  sniferini;'. 

Mr.  Lee  and  his  son  John  were  killed  in  tlie 
l)attle,  and  the  two  vouui;:  ehildren  fell  victims  to 
tiie  savages,  while  Mrs.  Lee  and  infant,  with  Mary 
were  taken  prisoners  of  war. 

Mrs.  Lee  fell  into  the  hands  ot'  Wau[>eke(!,  who 
had  a  village  on  the  Des  Plaines  river,  ahout 
twentv  ndles  from  ('hieaijo.  This  chief  treated 
his  prisoners  kindlv,  and  tried  to  induce  her  to 
infirrv  him,  notwithstandinii'  he  alreadv  liad  thi-ee 
wives.  But  she  declined  the  marriage  ju'oposi- 
tiou,  ho]>ing  some  day  to  be  ransomed,  and  again 
restored  to  friends  and  civilization. 

During  the  winter  Mrs.  Lee's  child  took  sick, 
and  after  all  the  km)wn  remedies  i;f  the  Lidian 
doctor  ha<l  failed  to  remove  the  disease,  the  chief 
proposed  to  take  it  to  C'hicago  for  medical  treat- 
ment     A  Frenchman  named  DuPin,  had  taken 


i   ; 


)f   K 


possessHtn  ot    ivinzies   house  s( 


oo 


11   after  tlie  de- 


fl       ill 


230       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


n 


'  I 


V'^ 


struction  of  tlie  fort,  and  here  carried  on  a   tnule 
witli  the  Indians  for  a  number  of  years. 

On  a  cold  day  in  tlie  latter  part  of  the  winter, 
Waupekee  wrapped  the  sick  infant  in  blankets, 
mounted  his  pony  and  with  his  charge  started  for 
Chicago.  On  arrivingat  DuPin's residence,  Wau- 
pekee carefully  laid  hi.-  pa^^kage  on  the  floor. 
"What  have  vou  there?" asked  the  trader.  To 
which  the  chief  replied,  "  A  young  raccoon, 
which  I  have  brought  you  as  a  present."  And 
unwrap})ing  the  package  there  lay  the  sick  infant, 
almost  smothered  in  the  thick  folds  of  the  blank- 
ets. The  trad*'!'  made  a  prescription  for  the  child, 
after  which  the  chief  carried  it  back  to  ''s  moth- 
er, and  it  Anally  got  well. 

The  trader  became  interested  in  tlie  welfare  of 
Mrs.  Lee,  and  offered  Waupekee  a  large  amount 
of  goods  for  his  j)risoner.  The  offer  was  accept- 
ed, the  prisonei'  brought  to  tlie  trading  house  and 
set  at  liberty.  Soon  after  Mrs.  Lee'h  liberation, 
this  lonely  captive  widow  became  Madam  Du- 
Pin. 

In  the  division  of  ]u'isoners  after  the  battle, 
Mary  Lee  was  taken  to  an  Indian  village  on  the 
Kankakee  river,  and  on  the  followinir  sitrinii:  was 
taken  to  St.  Louis  and  ransomed  by  General 
Clark,  the  Indian  aii-ent.  Some  vears  afterward 
she  married  a  French  Creole  by  the  name  of  Bes- 


MISSrONARIKS    OF  ILLINOIS. 


281 


ra(I( 


8(»n,  l)nl  is  now  a  widow,  living  willi  a  distant 
connection  of  her  Inishands.  Marv  never  met 
her  nKjtlier  after  tbat  fatal  dav,  and  for  inanv 
years  snp])oseds]ie  was  killed  with  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  but  snbse(|uently  learned 
oi  her  captivity,  liberation,  marriage  and  death. 

MISSIONARIES  OF  ILLINOIS. 

In  every  French  settlement  of  the  west  a  Je- 
suit missionary  preceded  it,  and  much  credit  is 
due  to  th(Mn  lor  ])r(!paring  the  minds  of  the  In- 
dians to  the  introduction  of  their  countrymen. 
Many  of  these  missionaries  were  talented  and 
eiUcient  bearers  of  tlie  cross,  who  devoted  tlieir 
whole  lives  to  the  conversion  of  heathens.  They 
traveled  tlii'ouu'h  all  parts  of  the  west,  from  Can- 
ada to  New  Orh'ans,  hacrilicin^jj  the  comforts  of 
civilization  for  the  }»ui'pose  of  Christianizing   the 

Indians. 

As  early  as  the  year  1640,  Father  Nicollet,  a 
French  Jesuit  priest  from  Canada,  ])reached  to 
the  Indians  witlun  tlie  limits  of  Illinois.  This 
devout  priest  ti-aveled  through  the  lake  eonntrv 
in  advance  of  all  other  missionaries,  preaching  to 
the  Indians  iuid  telling  them  the  story  of  tlie 
cross.  lie  visited  Green  Bay  in  1038,  and  in  all 
probability   was  the   first   white  man   that   ever 


■   * 

4 


'  I     -jdplf-^^i" 


.-**-  ^i^aw-,^?:;*?;^?*^?^^^* 


232      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

rowed  a  canoe  on  the  waters  ot"  Lake  ^ficlligan. 
lie  passed  down  tlie  west  side  of  tlie  lake  to  tlie 
nioutli  of  Chicago  river,  where  lie  met  a  Uirge 
])artj  of  Illinois  Indians,  engaged  in  Hsliing. 
Here  Father  Nicollet  remained  many  days, 
preaching  to  the  Indians,  some  of  whom  were 
converted  and  received  1)a])tism.  At  the  month 
of  the  river  he  raised  a  cross,  and  taught  the  In 
dians  to  look  upon  it  when  tronble  and 
misfortune  overtook  them,  and  through  its  elHca- 
cy  all  their  evils  would  be  e.\j)elled.  The  spot 
where  the  cross  was  erected  was  hallowed  by  the 
Indians,  and  pointed  out  to  Marquette  on  his 
visit  to  the  place  twenty-three  years  afterwards. 

Father  Nicollet  lived  ten  vears  among  the  sav- 
ages,  without  meeting  a  white  man,  and  beciinie 
an  Indian  in  dress,  habit  and  language,  still  re- 
mained a  zealous  Catholic,  but  at  last  he  returned 
to  civilization  because  he  could  not  live  without 
the  sacrament. 

After  Manpiette,  probably  the  most  devoted 
and  successful  missionary  was  Father  Allonez, 
who  established  missions  in  various  i)arts  of  the 
west.  lie  came  to  America  when  a  young  man. 
and  spent  a  long  life  in  })reachiiig  to  the  Indians, 
and  left  his  bones  in  the  wilds  of  the  west.  lie 
established  a  mission  at  St.  Mary's,  one  at  Green 
Bay,  and  one  at  St.  Joseph,  but  tiie  last  and  most 


i 


MISSIONARIES  OF  IILINOIS. 


233 


iin]K)rt;iiii   oiil's   were  at  Calmkia  aiul  Kaskaskia. 

Ill  the  year  1032,  Father  Allonez  an<i  K'athei' 
Ungues  Piiiet  aceompanied  La  Salle  in  his  voyai^e 
to  tlie  iiumrh  of  the  Miv-sissip])i,  and  they 
preaehed  to  the  Indians  at  every  village  where 
they  stopjxMl.  On  the  return  of  this  exploring 
paitv,  lliey  halted  several  days  at  Cahokia,  which 
jit  that  time  was  a  large  Indian  village.  The  na- 
tives supplied  the  voyageui's  with  eorn  and 
hulhdo  meat,  and  the  h(^-t  lodges  in  the  village 
WM'i'e  nrovided  toi" their  uceupation. 

AVhen  1^*1  Sidle's  ]>arly  were  alxuit  to  continue 
their  journey,  the  Indians  prevailed  on  the  two 
priests  to  remain  with  them,  and  teaeh  them  the 
word  of  lif(3.  The  devoted  ])j'iests  consented  to 
remain,  and  set  ahout  Christianizimr  the  heath- 
ens.  Tlu'V  visit(!(i  Kaskaskia  and  other  Indian 
villnges,  haptizing  a  large  nnnd)er  of  warriors, 
and  eni'olled  their  names  in  the  church  book. 
The  Indians  everywhere  welcc)med  the  priests, 
listenitm'  to  their  teachings  and  doiiiir  their  hid- 
ding.  They  learned  the  story  of  Christ's 
crucifixion,  and  with  a  trend>lii>g  voice  repeated 
it  to  their  fi'ietids  They  iK^t  oidy  received  bap- 
tism at  the  hands  of  tin-  }>rie^ts,  hut  allowed 
themsilves  to  he  sprinkled  M'ith  holy  water, 
which  they  helievtvl  hlotte<l  out  all  their  {)ast  sins 
and  saved  them  fi'om  perdition. 


J 


•  i' 


234       FRRNOH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS   RIVER. 


*  >  I 


i: 


i  1 


^i- 


'    K 


For  twenty  years  Father  Pi  net  remained  at 
Cahokia  preaching  to  the  Indians,  but  on  feeling 
the  infirmities  of  ai^^e  he  went  to  B'ort  St.  Louis, 
where  he  died  on  tlie  15th  of  July,  1704,  in  the 
seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age.  They  buried  him 
in  the  French  cemetery  on  the  river  bank,  at  the 
west  end  of  LeRocher,  and  oVer  his  grave  was 
erected  a  large  monumental  cross  hewn  out  of 
red  cedar. 

About  the  year  1814,  an  old  man  with  long 
white  hair,  which  hung  in  matted  clusters  over 
his  shoulders,  by  the  name  of  Wigby,  appeared 
among  the  Indians,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
})reaclied  at  dilfcrent  villages  along  the  Illinois 
river.  Nothing  is  known  of  this  man's  history, 
except  that  he  had  been  for  a  long  time  among 
the  Indians  on  the  Wabash,  and  spoke  their  lan- 
guage well.  It  is  believed  that  he  was  a  Baptist, 
as  he  immersed  all  his  converts,  telling  them  that 
this  was  necessary  for  their  admission  into  the 
happy  hunting  grounds  beyond  the  skies. 

Wigby  lived  at  Senachwine's  village,  and  was 
accompanied  l)y  that  chief  in  all  his  ministerial 
labors  among  the  different  bands.  Senachwine 
was  baptized  by  him,  and  professed  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian, but  the  missionary  could  not  induce  him  to 
abandon  polygamy  and  put  away  his  many  wives. 

Four  years  after  Wigby  came  to  the  country 


;r. 


MISSIONARIES  OF  ILLINOIS. 


235 


ling 


he  died,  and  was  buried  on  a  high  bhif!  overlook- 
ing  the  village  of  Senaehwine,  and  his  grave  was 
pointed  out  to  some  of  the  early  settlers. 

Among  the  energetic  and  successful  Protestant 
missionaries  of  this  country,  was  Elder  Jesse 
Walker,  of  the  Methodist  denomination,  who 
ac(]uired  great  celebrity  thoughout  the  west.  For 
many  years  Walker  was  engaged  in  holding  camp 
meetings  in  the  south  part  of  the  State,  but  in  the 
year  the  1824  he  came  north  and  established 
missions  along  the   frontier   settlements. 

Elder  Walker  was  a  short,  heavy-set  man,  very 
dark  skin,  walked  ere(!t,  with  an  independent 
pompous  bearing,  and  possessed  great  energy  and 
force  of  character.  lie  was  a  bold  undaunt(;d 
missionary,  bearing  the  standard  of  the  cross 
triunn)hantly  into  the  wilds  of  the  west,  among 
the  red  man  as  well  as  the  white. 

In  1826  Elder  Walker  established  a  mission 
school  among  the  Indians  at  a  place  called  Mission 
Point,  Oil  the  lllinoisriver,  a  short  distance  above 
Ottawa.  lie  also  established  the  tirst  church  at 
Chicago  ;  died  and  was  burie<l  at  Piainiield,  about 
the  time  the  settlement  commenced  there. 

A  Baptist  missionaiy  by  the  name  of  Adam 
Paine,  preached  among  the  Indians  with  great 
success,  but  was  killed  by  them  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Black  IJawk  war. 


,|,iiiaH 


In 


OilAPTEK  XX. 


HOWAP.Dfc      XP^:.      i'K  \  AGAINST  THE  INDIANS. 

In  September,  1813,  General  Howard  left 
Portage  des  Sioux  on  the  Missouri  river,  with  an 
expedition  against  the  Pottawatomie  Indians. 
His  army  consisted  of  five  hundred  regulars  and 
nine  hundred  volunteei's  ;  the  latter  from  Illinois 
and  Missouri.  The  regulars  ascended  the  Illinois 
river  in  keel-boats,  while  the  volunteers  being 
mounted,  crossed  the  Mississipj)i  near  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Quincy,  and  marched  throngh  the  wild 
country  to  Peoria.  On  arriving  at  Peoria  they 
found  it  desolated,  nothing  remained  of  the  old 
French  town  except  a  few  charred  timbers,  of 
which  the  l)uildings  had  been  constructed.  No 
Indians  were  seen  here,  but  in  the  tind)er  near 
the  outlet  of  the  lake,  there  were  siii'ns  of  havinii' 
l)een  a  recent  encamj)ment  of  them. 

The  troo])S  encam])ed  on  the  old  town  site,  and 
a  strong  picket  guard  placed  around  the  encamp- 


INDIANS  COLLECT  ON  BUREAU. 


237 


ment  to  prevent  being  snrprised  by  the  Indians. 
During  the  night  an  alarm  was  given,  and  a 
report  (circulated  tlinuigh  the  camp,  that  they 
were  about  to  be  attacked  by  a  large  body  of 
Indians.  All  the  troops  were  under  arms,  many 
shots  were  tired  at  the  phantoms,  and  one  soldier 
killed  by  a  sentinel,  tlie  alarm,  however,  was 
false,  as  no  Indians  made  their  appearance. 

On  the  following  day,  the  army  went  up  to 
Gomo's  village  situated  at  the  liead  of  the  lake, 
but  found  it  deserted  and  no  Indians  were  seen 
in  its  vicinity.  After  burnin_;  the  town  and  des- 
troying the  corn  in  the  caches,  the  army  returned 
to  Peoria  and  built  a  fort. 


( 1;  J 

( ' 

il 


w 


INDIANS  COLLECT  ON  BUREAU. 

Indian  scouts  discovered  General  Howard's 
army  on  its  arrival  at  Peoria,  and  notified  their 
friends  at  tbedift'erent  villages,  of  the  fact.  The 
inhabitants  of  Gomo's,  Setiachwine's  and  other 
villages,  fled  from  theii-  homes  on  being  warned 
of  their  danu'er,  and  collected  at  Coma's  villaice 
on  Bureau  creek.  Here  they  intended  to  make  a 
stand  ;  await  the  a{)proach  of  the  invading  army, 
and  light  for  thcii-  country  and  homes.  All  the 
s«puiws  and  pa[)j>oosc>s,  witii  old  warriors  unable 
to  bear  arms,  were  sent  up  the  creek  about  seven 


f 


'1  'r   i' 


FBBNOH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVEB. 

miles  above  the  town,  and  there  secreted  tlietn- 
in  the  thiek  timber  of  the  Bureau.* 

At  Coma's  villai::e  were  collected  about  one 
thousand  warriors,  occnj)ying  all  the  lodges;  and 
the  bank  of  the  creek  for  a  lon<^  distance  was  cov- 
ered with  camping  tents.  On  the  bottom  prairie 
below  the  village  hundreds  of  ponies  were  feed- 
ing, all  of  which  were  spanceled,  so  they  could 
be  caught  and  mounted  at  a  moment's  notice. 

It  was  expected  that  Howard's  army  would 
follow  up  the  river,  and  attack  them  in  their  re- 
treat, so  a  suitable  place  was  selected  to  make  a 
defense.  This  was  in  the  tl'^ok  timl)er,  some  dis- 
tiince  below  the  vilUige,  where  they  could  fire  on 

*  About  two  mUes  northwest  of  Princeton,  in  the  vaUey  of 
Bureau  Is  a  slnguhir  narrow  riil{?e  ahout  sixty  feet  high,  extend- 
ing from  the  east  biulf  part  way  across  the  bottom.  Tills  re- 
markable ridge,  wliicli  looks  like  a  freak  of  nature,  is  known 
as  the  Buck  Rone,  and  along  it  now  passes  a  pnl)li(!  road. 
Amona;  the  Indians  tliiM  place  was  a  noted  landmark,  and  it  be- 
came equally  so  with  hunters,  in  tiie  early  settlement  of  the 
country. 

Immediately  north  of  (lie  Back  Bone  amid  the  thiclc  liottom 
timber  was  ;iii  old  Indian  camping  ground,  and  liere  their  camp 
poles  stood  long  after  tliey  liad  left  the  country  .  In  tlie  fall  ot 
188(1,  a  party  ol  Indian  Imnters  were  euoninped  here  for  many 
days,  and  wliiie  In  conversation  with  one  of  thern,  1  obtained 
the  following  scrap  of  history  : 

"  Many  years  ago  when  I  was  a  small  boy,"  said  , an  Indian 
liunter,  "  four  tliousand  scjuaws  and  pappooses  were  encamped 
on  this  very  spot.  Here  they  remained  for  many  weeks  .seca'et- 
ed  among  tlie  tlilck  timlier,  so  the  army  of  wiiites  could  not 
find  tliem."  At  that  time  all  t  lie  warriors  were  at  Indiantown, 
with  the  lnt«ntio;i  of  rigiiting  the  whites  if  Mieycame  up  tlie 
river  lu  pursuit  of  them. 


LIEUTBNANT  E0BKN80N  8  PARTY, 


239 


the  invaders  while  crossing  a  small  bottom  prairie. 
Indian  scouts  who  were  all  the  time  on  the 
alert,  discovered  troops  ascending  the  river  in 
keel-boats,  and  in  all  haste  conveyed  the  tidings 
to  the  village.  On  receiving  these  tidings,  the 
drums  beat,  Indians  yelled,  all  was  bustle  and  ex- 
citement, and  soon  the  warriors  were  secreted  in 
their  anibuscade  awaiting  the  enemy.  But  when 
they  found  that  the  boats  continued  on  up  the 
river,  they  returned  to  the  village, 

GUNBOATS  ASCEND    THE  RIVER — LIEUTENANT  ROB- 
EN  SON's  PARTY. 


Four  keel-boats,  mounted  with  cannon  and 
filled  with  armed  soldiers  belonging  to  the  regular 
army,  under  the  command  of  Major  Christy,  as- 
cended the  river  from  Peoria  in  search  of  Indians. 
On  landing  at  the  different  villages  along  the 
river,  they  found  them  deserted,  all  the  Indians 
having  fled  from  their  homes.  It  was  intended 
to  ascend  the  Illinois  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Fox 
river,  but  finding  it  dilHcult  to  pass  the 
rapids,  they  sto})i)ed  at  Starved  Rock.  On  the 
following  day  the  boats  were  turned  down  stream, 
landing  at  the  mouth  of  Bureau  creek,  from 
here  a  party  was  sent  out  in  search  of  Indians. 
About  eighty  soldiers,   under    the  commaiui    of 


h 


'    I 


ill- 


2-iO       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

n 

Lieutenant  Ro])en8on,  martiliod  up  Bureau   ereek 
witli  the  intention  of  visitinu^  Coma's  villaijfe,  lo- 


Att 


ei-  ^-oiiiiT  six  or  seven 


eated  nine  miles  distant 
miles  up  tlu;  vuUey,  through  thi(;k  timber  with 
oeeasional  bottom  prairie,  thej  discovered  a  trail 
tilled  with  fresh  ])oney  tracks.  On  seeing  these 
Indian  si«i;ns,  they  came  to  a  halt,  and  held  a  con- 
sultation on  the  propriety  of  procecMling  further. 
Knowing  th;it  they  were  near  a  large  Indian  vil- 
lage, and  at  any  ])oint  of  timl)er  were  liable  to 
fall  into  an  ambuscade  of  lurking  savages.  Some 
were  in  favoi"  of  going  on  and  burn  the  village  if 
vacated,  but  iortmuitely  a  majority  opposed  it, 
conse<juently  they  turiuMl  about  and  retraced 
their  steps  to  the  river. 

On  the  return  of  Robenson's  (command,  who  re- 
ported no  Indians  found,  Maj(.>r  Christy  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  they  had  lied  from  the  country, 
he  male  preparations  to  descend  the  river. 
Before  leaving,  the  caujions  tired  a  salute,  toasts 
were  drank,  and  tlu^  stream  named  Robenson's 
river,  which  name  it  bore  for  manv  years  after- 
wards,  and  so  appeared  on  the  early  maps  of  the 
state. 

Indian  scouts  had  watched  the  keel-l)oats  as 
thev  ascended  and  descended  the  river,  and 
on  secMug  them  land  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek 
and  send  out  troops  to  make  observations,  they 


li 


1 


HOWARD  8  ARMY  ATTACKED  BY  INDIANS. 


24 


put  tlieir  ponies  on  a  gallop  to  convey  the  tidings 
to  the  villa«;'C,  and  it  it  was  the  tracks  of  their 
jHjiiies  which  Uobenson's  party  discovered.  On 
learning  of  the  approach  of  tiie  whites,  warriors 
mounted  their  ponies,  and  rode  witli  all  haste  to  the 
})hice  where  they  intended  to  attack  tlio  invaders. 
Here  many  ot  the  warriors  secreted  themselves 
among  the  thick  timber,  while  those  mounted 
remained  in  the  rear  to  intercept  the  vancpiished 
troops.  Had  the  soldiers  under  Robenson  con- 
tinued their  march  toward  the  Indian  village, 
the  probabilities  are  not  one  of  them  would 
have  escaped  from  deatli,  as  the  warriors  out-num- 
bered them  ten  to  one,  and  many  of  them  mounted, 
while  the  troops  were  on  foot. 

Howard's  army  attacked  by  Indians. 

When  the  army  under  the  command  of  General 
Howard  arrived  at  Peoria,  Black  Partridge  made 
an  etl'ort  to  unite  the  ilitierent  bands,  and  thereby 
raise  a  large  force  to  attack  them  before  fortifica- 
tions could  be  erected.  Shaubena,  Waba  and 
Waubonsie,  with  many  of  their  followers,  were 
with  Tecumseh  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  warriorw 
of  the  different  bands  cotdd  not  be  united  under 
any  one  chief.  Senachwine  was  opposed  to  an 
offensive  war,  and  being  a  chief  of  great  influ- 
ence and  gifted  with  stirring  elo«j[uence,  carried 


6 


T'    I 


242      PRKNOH  AND  INDIANS  OF   ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


I] 


i  : 


with  liim  a  large  portion  ot"  the  warriors.  Black 
Partri(l<^(:  was  gj'uve  and  morose,  brooding  over 
the  wrongs  which  he  received  from  the  whites  the 
year  before,  and  lived  only  for  revenge.  Not- 
withstanding he  liad  taken  many  scalps  the 
past  s'Hnnier,  and  murdered  defenseless  women 
and  chddren,  still  he  thirsted  for  more  blood. 

It  was  a  beautiful  clear  day  in  the  early  part  of 
Indian  sunnncr;  the  warriors  were  lounging  along 
Bnreau  creek,  some  fishing,  others  running  foot 
races^  wrestling  <>r  ])laying  with  balls  or  hoops. 
All  was  (]uiet  at  the.  village,  neither  war  dances, 
religious  feasts,  nor  marriage  festivals,  nothing 
whatever  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  camp  life. 
A  party  of  warriors  w^ere  about  to  start  on  a  hunt, 
when  two  scouts  arrived  from  Peoria,  saying  that 
the  army  was  engaged  in  building  a  tort  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  possession  of  the  country.  At 
this  announcement  Black  Partridge,  armed  with 
a  rifle  and  tomahawk,  mounted  his  pony  and  rode 
back  and  forth  through  the  camp  calling  for  vol- 
unteers to  follow  him  to  victory.  About  three 
hundred  responded  to  the  call,  among  whom  was 
a  young  brave  named  Autuckee,  alterward  head- 
chief  at  Indiantown,  and  known  by  nuuiy  of  the 


early 


■iCttl 


ers   o 


f   tl 


us 


nowi 
eouni 


The 


warriors 


mounted  their  ponies,  and  before  sundown  were 
on  their  way  to  meet  the  enemy.     Traveling  j>nrt 


HOWARD  8  ABMY  ATTACKED  »Y  INDIANA. 


243 


(if  Lho  nif^lit,  they  encamjKMl  in  the  river  tiinltcr, 
uhout  tour  miles  above  Peoria,  and  on  the  t'ollow- 
iiijL?  (hiy  attaelvc.;!  the  army.  Wliile  tlie  .^ohhers 
were  en^ai^'ed  in  huihlini^  a  fort,  uneoiiseious  of 
<hm;;^ei',  they  were  attacked  l>y  this  body  of  Indians, 
and  liad  it  not  been  for  persons  outside  of  the 
j)icket guard  giving  timely  alarm,  in  all  probability 
a  bloody  battle  would  hav-e  been  the  result. 

The  following  aecount  of  this  a'Tiiir  is  taken 
from  the  statement  of  Colonel  George  Daven- 
jKjrt,  who  at  that  time,  was  a  non-eommissioned 
otlieer  in  the  regular  army,  but  in  after  years  be- 
came a  noted  Indian  trader  at  R<)(d<  L  Innd. 

A  well  havinu:  been  dui>'  within  the  stockades 
to  sup[)ly  the  fort  with  water,  it  became  neeevSsary 
to  have  a  sweep  to  draw  it,  so  Mr.  Davenport 
with  two  companions  went  into  the  woods  to  get 
a  grapevine  for  that  purpose.  Having  found  one 
to  an!?wer  the  jturpose,  Davenport  elind)cd  tlie 
tree  to  cut  it  olf,  and  while  doing  so  he  discovered 
a  body  of  Indians  skulking  through  the  timber 
in  the  direction  of  the  fort.  On  seeinii'  their 
danger,  Davenport  and  his  companions  tied  to- 
wards the  fort,  but  finding  Indians  in  that 
direction  they  turned  their  course  for  the  gun- 
boats which  were  moored  in  the  lake.  With  all 
their  speed  they  ran  for  the  boats,  closely  followed 
by  the  Indians,  who  fired  at  them  yelling  like  de- 


i  iU 

I  A 


r 


244        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS    IIIVKR. 

inons.  Tlie  men  on  ])oar(l  (jf  tlicii'unhoats,  hein^' 
alarnicd  for  their  own  safety,  })nsheil  tlieni  oW 
i'rom  tlio  slioi'e,  but  fortunately  oiie  groun(le<l  on 
a  sand  bar,  wliich  was  tlie  means  of  gavin^'  the 
life  of  Davenport  and  liis  companions.  The  fug- 
itives rushed  into  the  water,  waist  deep,  and 
pushed  tlie  unrounded  l)oat  otl  and  jum[»e<l  (»n 
board  of  it.  Durini;- this  time  the  Indians  were 
fii-inii'  on  then,  and  manv  of  tlie  balls  whizzed  i>v 
their  lieads,  lod<;-ing  in  the  si(hi  ot  tlie  boat.  Tl)0 
boats  were  now  off  some  distance  from  shoi'e,  still 
the  Indians  continued  to  lire  on  them,  but  with- 
out elfect.  A  (^njuion  on  one  of  the  boats  was 
})rouglit  to  beiii'on  the  savages,  but  in  the  excite- 
ment of  tlie  nioiiiont  its  muzzle  was  raised  above 
tlie  port  hole,  and  the  ball  tore  oif  a  portion  of 
one  side  of  the  vessel. 

The  Indians  attacked  the  tort,  which  was  in  an 
unlinisiied  condition,  but  met  with  a  warm  ivccp- 
tion  from  the  s<jMiers.  The  cannon  on  the  boat 
havinu'  been  broui^-lit  to  bear  on  thesava^-es,  tlx^y 
abandoned  the  attack  and  lied  for  the  timber,  and 
on  the  following  day  returned  to  their  village  on 
Bureau  creek. 

BUILDING  OF  FORT  OLARtC. 
t 

Preparations  having  been  made  to  build  a  f)rt 


nUILDINO  uF  FORT  CLARK. 


24:) 


oil  tlic  situ  ()!' tlic  oltl  Fi'L'iu'li  town,  (or  llic  |>iir 
post!  ot"  liuldiiin  poi;session  ol'  tlic  country. 
TimlxTs  wore  cut  on  tlie  ()]>])(»sitc  side  of  the 
lake  and 'floated  across  to  build  l)lock  and  store 
houses,  and  enclose  the  U>i'\  with  palisades.  On 
a  liiiL;-h  piece  ot*  ii,'round  near  the  hank  of  the  lake, 
and  liaviiiii,'  a  coinniandiiig  view  of  it,  they  erect- 
ed a  furt.  This  fort  was  a  simple  stockade,  one 
liuudred  and  twenty  teet  square,  constructed  i)y 
})lacint;'  ill  tlie  ground  Iwo  ro\\>  ol  split  timbers, 
<Mi>'liteen  teet  h)ng,  and  tilliiii:'  the  space;  between 
witli  (hrt.  xV  ditch  surrounded  the  ibrt,  and  at 
two  corners  were  Ijabtions  for  niountiiii^  cannon. 
Tlie  fori  stood  witli  one  c(jrner  t(»  tlie  lake,  and 
at  the  soutliwest  angle  was  a  gateway,  guaivled 
by  two  heavy  doors  made  out  of  8[)lit  logs  or 
[)uncheons.  Inside  of  the  stockades  was  a  large 
block-house,  two  stories  higli,  and  on  three  sides 
of  wliich  were  [)ort  lioles  so  the  inmates  could 
lire  on  the  enemy  in  case  of  an  attack.  Besides 
the  bh)ck-honse  there  were  store-houses  and 
(piarters  for  the  otHcers.  and  a  huuiIku"  ot  small 
dwellings  foi'  soldiers. 

When  the  fort  was  completed  ami  the  cannon 
rnountctl  on  its  ranipaits.  witli  the  llags  waving 
on  its  bastions.  General  llow.inl  ordiuvd  all  the 
soldiers  on  duty,  Vvho  fonned  in  double  tile,  front- 
ing the  gateway.     A    si^eech    was    made   by    the 


( 


i 


246      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


■■■i 


coinmanding  officer,  tlie  drums  beat,  tlie  soldiers 
cheered,  the  cannon  fired  a  salute,  and  with  much 
enthusiasm  the  fort  was  dedicated,  and  named 
Fort  Clark  in  honor  of  General  Gecu'i^e  Roarer 
Clark,  the  hero  of  Kaskaskia  and  Vincinnes. 

With  the  army  at  Fort  Clark  was  a  Yankee 
peddler,  who  acted  as  a  sutler,  by  the  name  of 
Jenkins,  but  on  account  of  his  close  dealing  ac- 
quired tlie  cognomen  ot  "Old  SkinHint."  He 
was  very  unpopular  with  the  soldiers,  and  all 
efforts  to  beat  him  in  trade  had  been  a  failure. 
Among  the  volunteers  was  one  John  Mui-dick, 
who  was  very  fond  of  whiskey,  but  seldom  had 
money  to  buy  it,  so  he  ]>ut  his  wits  to  work  in  or- 
der to  get  some  out  of  "Old  Skiidlint/'as  he  call- 
ed the  sutler.  Murdick  placed  in  the  bosom  of 
liis  hunting  shirt  two  black  bottles,  one  of  which 
was  empty  and  the  other  filled  with  water.  Tak- 
ing out  the  empty  bottle  the  sutler  filled  it  with 
whiskey,  when  Murdick  replaced  it  in  bis  b(xsom, 
saying  at  the  same  time  that  he  was  out  of  money, 
ajid  it  would  have  to  be  chari^ed  to  him.  The 
sutler  became  angry,  and  after  much  parleying, 
with  many  hard  words  on  both  sides,  Murdick 
consented  to  give  up  the  whisky,  ])\\t  took  out  the 
bottle  containing  the  water,  which  ''Old  Skiufiiut" 
em])tied  into  the  cask  while  Murdick  walked  off 
with  the  whisky. 


CIIAPTEK  XX  r. 


A  TREATY  OF  PEAOB. 


l)hu'k  Partridire  and  his  friends  iindintj^  it  ini- 
[>(>.S8il)l(3  to  unite  the  ditlercnt  bands,  so  as  to 
pro.seente  the  war  successtuUv,  thouglit  it  best  to 
Hiake  peace,  and  aeeonb'ngly  a  lar<^e  delegation  of 
chiefs  and  warriors  went  to  Fort  Clark  for  tliat 
purpose.  When  this  party  arrived  Avithin  a  few 
miles  of  Peoria,  they  caine  to  a  halt,  and  Senach- 
wine,  with  two  warriors  carrying  white  flags, 
went  forward  to  the  gate  of  the  tort  and  proposed 
to  meet  the  commanding  olHcer  in  council.  Ar- 
rangements  were  made  for  a  meeting  on  the 
f(>llovviug  day,  in  a  grove  of  timber  above  the 
tort,  for  the  pur[)ose  of  agreeing  on  terms  of 
peace.  At  the  app(.>inted  time  about  forty  chiefs 
and  warriors,  decorated  wnth  wreaths  of  turkey 
feathers,  maile  their  appearance  and  were  met 
by  General  Howard  and  all  the  otlicers  of  his 
command.      After    shaking   hands    and    passing 


I 


248        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


■■ill ' 


r 


I    \ 


around  the  ]>ipc  of  peace,  Seiiacliwitic  made  a 
a  s])eecli  before  the  council,  in  vvhicli  lie  naid  that 
they  had  come  to  make  ])eace  with  the  whites, 
and  Ijury  tlie  tomahawk  forever.  In  rcjily  to 
this  speech  General  Howard  said  that  he  had  no 
power  to  ti'eat  with  them,  but  proposed  to  con- 
duct their  head  chiefs  to  General  Clark, 
8U[)erinten(lent  of  Indian  affairs  at  St.  L(^uis,  who 
alone  was  authorized  to  make  terms  of  peace. 
The  Indians  consented  to  this,  and  a  deleij^ation 
of  thirteen  chiefs  and  one  squaw  were  selected 
to  go  to  St.  Louis.  Among  these  chiefs  were 
]>]ack  Partriu<i;e,  Senachwine,  Comas,  Shick  Shack 
and  Gonio.  General  Howard  ordered  Geor^-c 
Davenport  to  select  four  trusty  men  and  escort 
these  Indians  to  St.  Louis. 

All  necessary  arrangements  having  been  made, 
this  party  on  the  following  day  went  on  board  of 
a  pirogue  and  started  down  the  river  for  St.  Louis. 
It  beijig  late  in  Decendjer,  the  weather  cold,  con- 
sequently after  one  day's  journey  the  river  froze 
up,  and  the  remainder  of  the  journey  was  made 
on  foot.  The  oirogue  was  secreted  in  the  thick 
timber,  a  short  distance  from  the  river,  and  each 
person  carried  with  him  a  small  (piantity  of  pro- 
visions, leaving  the  remainder  of  their  stores,  in- 
cluding a  keg  of  whisky,  in  a  hollow  tree,  so 
they  could   be  used   on   their  return.     At  night 


TREATY  l»F  VKA.CE. 


249 


hotli  wliitos  ;ui<l  riidiaiis  ('uniitci]  t(tii;c'tlier,  but 
each  [Kirty  kept  a  guard  ou  duty,  as  thuy  ibarcd 
treachery. 

This  }mrty  after  live  days  travel,  arrived  sate  at 
St.  Louis,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  coiicluded,  and 
the  Indians  lai't  five  of  tlieir  nunibei'  at  the  garri- 
son as  a  liostage  for  its  ildriUnient.  The  Indians 
on  their  I'eturn  were  escorted  as  far  as  Alton, 
above  the  settlement,  and  they  returned  to  their 
homes. 

After  peace  was  made  with  the  Indians,  Foil 
Clark  was  abandoned,  the  tnjops  returned  to  the 
settlement,  and  the  volunteers  were  discharged 
from  service. 

WAUBONSIE 


Was  a  chief  among  the  Pottawatomies,  and  the 
leader  of  a  small  band  consisting  of  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  persons.  It  is  said  tliat  he 
once  had  a  village  near  the  mouth  of  Vox  river, 
but  for  many  years  he  with  his  baud  made  their 
home  at  Paw  Paw  Grove.  Waiibousie  was  a 
large,  line  looking  Indian,  tall  :iiid  s(juare  built, 
with  a  hidsomc  face,  an  intelligent  countenance, 
and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  became  (piite 
corpulent.  lie  had  an  indi^pendent,  pompons  ap- 
pearance,    over-bearing     towards      his      people, 


•MiaP'i'BMH 


250       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLxjfOIS  RIVER. 


IP  -^' 
|,V|_ 

i 


( 


ff 


;  .  ! 


1' 


tind  nut  very  courteous  to  tlic  whites,  iuul  it  not 
been  for  his  coh)r,  dress  and  lan^un^e,  he  might 
liave  been  taken  forathoroui^li-bred  Joluiny  Bull. 
At  tlie  eomrnencenient  of  the  Black  Hawk  war 
Waubonsie  was  in  favor  of  forming  an  alliance 
with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  at  a  council  held  at 
Indiantown  in  February,  1832,  made  a  speech  to 
that  effect.  But  being  overruled  by  his  })eople, 
he  professed  to  be  frien<lly  to  the  whites,  joined 
Atkinson's  army  at  Dixon,  and  fought  against 
Black  Hawk. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  British  war, 
Waubonsie  was  only  a  common  warrior  and  went 
with  Shaubetia  to  the  Wabash,  but  was  soon 
after  made  a  chief  on  account  ot  the  following  act 
of  bravery:  One  day  he  left  the  camp  to  hunt 
deer  in  the  woods,  and  on  coming  near  the  Wa- 
bash river  he  heard  the  sound  of  voices.  Ap- 
proaching cautiously  he  discovered  a  party  of 
soldiers  cordeling  a1)oat  up  the  river,  loaded  with 
stores  for  B'ort  Harrison.  To  shoot  one  of  the 
soldiers  and  make  his  escape  would  have  been 
an  easy  matter,  but  this  would  not  satisfy  his  am- 
bition, as  he  could  not  in  this  way  obtain  the  seal}) 
as  a  trophy.  One  man  only  was  on  the  boat 
steering  it,  while  the  other  four  were  ahead  with 
a  cordel  line.  As  the  boat  came  near  the  shore 
Waubonsie  jumped   on   board,  tomahawked  the 


WAUBONSIE. 


251 


man  at  helm,  took  oft  his  scalp,  aiul  with  it  made 
his  escape.  For  this  act  of  bravery  he  was  made 
a  war  chief,  and  became  the  leader  of  a  band. 

In  the  snmmer  of  18B6  Waubonsio,  with  a  few 
of  his  band  came  to  Princeton,  and  l)oui4'ht  of 
McCayga  Triplett  a  beantiful  spotted  stallion  of 
the  Rocky  Mountain  breed,  for  which  he  })aid 
three  hundred  dollars  in  silver,  all  in  twenty-five 
cent  pieces.  Sometime  afterwards,  while  the  old 
chief  was  under  the  influence  of  whisky,  mounted 
on  his  fine  black  and  white  horse,  he  rode  back 
and  forth  through  the  town,  putting  on  as  much 
style  as  though  he  was  a  general  in  command  of 
an  army.  To  those  around  him  he  narrated  (in 
bad  English,)  his  many  heroic  exploits  while 
fighting  with  Tecumsch,  and  told  how  many  scalps 
he  had  taken  with  his  own  hands.  From  a  pouch 
in  his  buckskin  hunting  shirt  he  drew  forth  two 
scalps,  one  of  which  the  hair  was  red  and  the 
other  black.  The  red  one  he  said  was  taken  from 
the  head  of  a  soldier  at  the  battle  of  River  Rasin, 
and  the  black  one  from  a  boatman  on  the  Wa- 
bash. 

Iri  the  tall  of  1836  Waubonsio,  went  west  with 
his  band,  and  was  never  seen  in  this  country 
afterwards.  A  shoi't  time  after  his  arrival  in 
the  west,  he  was  killed  by  a  party  of  Sacs  and 
Foxes  for  having  fought  against  them  in  the  late 


mm 


[■'Hi 


252      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS   ()F    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

war.  Ilis  scalp  was  taken  ofT,  the  body  mutilated 
and  left  on  the  prairie  to  be  devoured  by  wolves. 
The  Saes  and  Foxes  made  an  attem])t  to  kill 
Shaubeua  for  the  same  olteuse,  and  for  months 
haunted  him  ilown  as  thouiih  he  was  a  wild 
I)ea8t.  To  preserve  his  life  he  fled  from  the 
country,  returning  to  his  old  home  in  Illinois, 
where  he  ended  his  days,  but  his  son  and  nephew 
fell  vietims  to  these  savages. 


BURNINCI  OF  FORT  CLAKK. 

It  has  already  l,)een  stated,  that  P'ort  Clai'k  was 
abandoned  soon  after  it  was  built,  and  never  oecu- 
])ied  afterwards.  No  white  person  li  vei  1  at  Peoi'ia, 
(then  known  as  Fort  Clark,)  after  the  troops 
vaeate<l  the  fort  until  the  spring-  of  1819.  The 
<z;ate  of  the  fort  being  left  oj'en,  became  a  lair 
for  deei'  and  a  roost  for  wild  turkeys.  In  the  fall 
of  18i().  a  party  of  hunters  from  St.  Clair  county, 
eanu;  to  Fort  Clark  and  found  about  twenty  de(M' 
in  it.  The  floor  of  the  houses  were  covered  with 
manure,  and  it  also  showed  unmistakable  signs 
of  having  been  a  turkey  roost.  The  hunters 
cleaned  out  one  of  the  buildings  and  occuj)ied  it 
as  a  residence  during  a  stay  of  ten  days,  whih; 
hunting  deer  and  collcn-ting  honey  in  tin;  river 
timber.      Foi't  (/lark  stood    unmolesttul   until    the 


BURNING  OF  FOKT  CLARK. 


253 


fall  of  1818,  wlien  it  was  burned  by  the  Indians. 
Tiie  foll()win<r  account  of  the  burniuir  of  the  fort 
is  taken  from  the  statement  of  Colonel  Genlen  S. 
Hubbard,  now  a  resident  of  Chicairo  : 

In  the  fall  of  1818,  Antoiue  I)es  Cliarnps,  gen- 
eral ag-ent  of  the  Amei'ican  Fur  Company, 
accompanied  by  a  number  of  persons  were  on 
their  way  to  St  Louis,  with  two  small  boats 
loaded  with  furs.  On  rounding  the  point  of 
the  lake  thev  discovered  Fort  Clark  on 
fire.  On  landing  at  the  fort  they  found  about 
two  -hnndred  Indians  engaged  in  a  war  dance, 
celebrating  some  event  which  occurred  in  the  late 
Hritish  war.  The  warriors  almost  naked,  hide- 
ously painted,  and  as  they  went  through  the 
dance  yelled  like  demons.  They  had  a  large  num- 
ber ol  scalps  hanging  to  their  belts,  and  in  one 
part  of  thedaiu-e  thes(5  were  placed  on  the  end  of 
spears  and  held  above  their  lieads,  after  which 
they  would  go  through  the  motions  of  taking 
them  from  the  heads  of  their  victims. 

Des  Champs  was  well  acrpuiinted  with  a  num- 
ber of  the  Indians,  and  he  went  among  them, 
engaged  in  conversation,  leaving  the  boats  guanl- 
ed  by  one  of  his  men  and  Mi'.  Hubbard,  who  at 
that  tine  was  a  boy  of  only  sixteen  years  ol'  ag(!. 
The  Indians  in<piiic<l  of  Des  Cluun[)s,  who  this 
boy  was,  and  in  reply  said  that  he  was  his  adopt- 


mmmm 


254       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 


I' I  . 


y  i 


ed  son  from  Montreal,  but  they  did  not  credit 
this  statement,  saying  he  looked  like  an  Ameri- 
can, and  therefore  regarded  liini  witli  niueli 
suspicion.  An  Indian  took  a  ricaljj  from  his  belt, 
liohling  it  near  Hubbard's  face,  sayinu;*  t(.>  him, 
that  lie  was  an  American  and  it  was  taken  from 
the  head  ot  his  countrymen.  Young  Hubbard 
became  much  frightened  }it  these  demonstrations, 
and  the  Indian  continued  to  annoy  him  by  dip- 
ping the  «cal[)  in  the  water,  and  with  the  long 
hair  s])rinkled  his  tVice.  In  an  instant  all  fear 
vanished  from  young  Hubbard,  and  picking  up  a 
gun  which  lay  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat  tired  it 
at  the  Indian,  but  as  it  went  off  the  man  in  the 
boat  threw  u[)  the  muzzle,  thereby  saving  the  In- 
dian's lite.  This  affair  created  great  excitement, 
and  the  Indians  collected  around  the  boat  to  as- 
certain the  cause  of  it.  Des  Champs  fearing 
trouble,  bid  his  Indian  friends  good-l>ye,  went 
aboard  of  the  boat  and  continued  on  his  way  down 
the  river,  camping  on  the  opposite  side  some  miles 
below. 

Although  the  buildings  of  Fort  Clark  and  part 
of  the  stockades  were  burned,  as  before  stated,  a 
portion  of  the  latter  stood  for  many  years  after- 
wards. In  the  spring  of  1819  a  pai'ty  of 
emigrants  from  Clinton  county,  among  whom 
were  Captain  Abner  Eads,  Isaac  and  Josiah  Ful- 


BCKNINO  OF  FORT  OLAKK. 


255 


ton  ami  J   Ile^sey,  came  to  Fort  Clark,  ami  from 
tmttimodat^tho  first  Amoru-a,,  settlcnent  at 
this  pkce.     Tl,e.e  e.uiVrant,  pit.l.cl  their  tout. 
agHM.st  tl,o  stockades  of  the  old  fort,  a„d  for  some 
.years  afterwards  the  enelosm-e  within  the  pickets 
Wj.8  used   for  pe.mins  work  cattle.     Duri,,.  the 
Black  Hawk  war  in  the  summer  of  1832,  the  old 
ort  was  re|,aire.l,  new  pickets   put   in   place  of 
io.,e  Imrned,  and  used  by  the  people  to  protect 
themselves  from  the  threatene.I  attack  .,f  In.lians 
<Jne    of    the  ],iekets  of   Fort  Clark    was    stili 
stranding  and  perfectly  sound  as  late  as  1844,  and 
attracted  much  attenticm  as  a  relic  of  the  past. 
It  stood  near  the  resi.lence  of  Charles    IJallance, 
i'^n-,  who  sawed  off  the  top,  put  a  rinj,  in  it,  and 
"sed  It   tor    a  hitching;    post.      Afterwards  this 
pos     was  taken  up  by  Mr.    Drown,  ,„a.Ie  into 
walkmg  canes.  an,l  sold  on    speculation  at   fifty 
cents  each.     One  of  these  canes  is  n„w  in  the 
possession  of  Samuel  Snee.l,  of  St.  Clair  county 
who    assisted  in     building  the    fort     si.Uy-o.fe' 
years  ago.  "^ 

p 


a 


CHAPTER  XXTI. 


IMMIGRATION  OF  POTTAWATOMIEfl, 


^^ 


I 


I  i 


[■'4 


-|!Mi 


Tlie  following  triiditioimry  account  of  tlie  ini- 
niiiiration  of  Pottawatoniies  to  Illinoirt  was 
rc^cently  gathered  ti'oni  the  tril»c  in  western  Kan- 
has  : 

In  tlie  year  17H9  tlie  Pottawatoniies  of  Ohio, 
Michigan  and  Indiana  came  west  and  took  pos- 
session  of  the  Illinois  conntry.  A  village  was 
hnilt  on  Des  PlaincwS  river,  and  one  on  Sycamore 
creek.  A  chiei'  named  Wanesee  who  had  ac- 
qnired  great  fame  in  the  Pontiac  war,  1-ocated  a 
village  at  the  mouth  of  Fox  river.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  river  opposite  the  outlet  of  L'ke 
De  Pue  a  \illage  was  built,  hut  ahandone* 
after  for  one  on  the  north  side  of  the  lake. 

An  old  chief  named  Wapjie,  with  seven  wives 
and  ahout  four  hundred  tollowers,  located  on 
Purean  creek,  nine  miles  above  its  mouth,  on  the 
j>resent  site  of   Tiskilwa.      For   nuiny    years  this 


IMMIGRATION  OF  PoTTAWATOMIES. 


267 


/'!< 


a» 


i\es 

oil 
the 
lliis 


village  hore  tlie  name  of"  its  foniider,  afterwards 
Cuina's  village,  hut  known  In-  the  early  settlers 
as  Iiuliantowii.  A  ehiet"  iiarned  Tiskilwa  lived 
here  at  one  time,  but  little  iskiiown  of  his  history 
exeept  he  had  many  wives  and  was  a  f]^reat  hun- 
ter. 

On  the  west  si(h;  of  tlie  river  near  the  month 
of  Crow  creek  a  village  was  founded  by  White 
Crow,  who  with  his  band  came  from  the  lake 
country.  This  chief  died  the  same  year  the 
bulhdo  left  the  conntry,  and  a  large  mound,  which 
is  still  to  be  seen,  raised  over  his  grave.  In  the 
earlv  settlement  of  the  countrv  a  chief  named 
Crow  lived  here,  from  whom  Crow  creek  and 
Crow  prairie  took  their  names. 

The  largest  town  on  the  river  stood  on  the 
present  site  of  Chillicothe,  which  was  known  in 
after  years  as  Gomo's  village.  In  the  a[)ring  af- 
ter thfe  Starved  Rock  massacre,  a  chief  l)y  the 
name  of  Mucktapennesee  or  Black  Bird  with 
about  live  hundred  followers  came  from  the  Wa- 
bash and  located  here.  After  the  death  of  this 
chiet  his  two  sons  were  contestants  for  the  chief- 
tainship. Part  of  the  band  favored  one  and  part 
the  otlier.  Failing  to  agree,  one  of  the  chiefs 
with  a  portion  of  the  band  located  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  at  what  was  known  in  at'ter  years 
as  Black   Partridge's  village.     A  few  years  after- 


w 


■'J   ! 


''■•J!- 


M 

J; ,« ; 

m 


11 


258       FRENClEI  AND  INDIANS  OP  ILLINOIS   KIVER. 

M'ur(l.s  tlit'se  two  cliiefs  with  rn;iny  of  their 
warriors  were  ki1h;d  in  a  Itattle  witli  tlie  Kfiskas- 
kia  Indians. 

West  of  the  river  on  a  small  creek  was  an  In- 
dian village,  tiie  iionie  of  the  celebrated  ehiei' 
Senachwine,  hnt  nothin,i>;  is  known  «;f  its  early 
liistory. 


t 


POTT  AW  ATOMIES  OF  ILLINOIS  KIVKR. 

Alter  the  Illinois  Indians  were  annihilated 
their  contjnerurs  took  j)<)ssessi(in  of  the  eonnt''_v 
an<i  ueenpied  it  alxnit  .^eventv  years.  iM-lween 
Peoria  lake  and  the  mouth  of  Fox  river  had 
loiiii'  been  known  as  the  Indian  eonntrv,  and  ik. 
part  ot  the  great  west  was  so  densely  po])tilated 
as  this.  Here  lived  the  larger  portion  of  tlie 
Illinoians,  and  here  too  were  found  their  sueees- 
sori,  the  Potttiwatomies.  Althougii  their'towns 
and  eornlields  were  mostly  located  on  the  llliiMois 
river,  tliev  claimed  as  liuntin'.)i;  "rounds  the  coun- 
try  from  the  Wahasii  to  the  Mississippi  rive,*,  und 
over  tills  vast  country  they  rt>amed  at  [)lea8ure. 
In  the  year  1800  the  commissioner  of  Indian  al- 
fairs  estimated  thai  tliirty  thouiiand  Indians 
(ineluiling  all  the  dilVerent  tribes)  w  ;re  living 
within  the  boundaries  of  this  stutj,  and  about 
three-lifths    of  tliis  number   were  on   the  Illinois 


POTTAWATOMIES  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER 


0\() 


I'iver.  In  the  wiitrul  portion  of  the  state  M-ere  a 
fow  villa<,'es  of  Kickapoo  Indians,  who  s|)oke  the 
8amc  lano-naire  as  tlie  Pottawatoniies,  and  iiiter- 
niarning  with  each,  other  heennie  as  one  people. 
Ill  the  southern  part  of  the  state  lived  a  hir^e 
l)and  of  Kaskaskia  Indians,  who  were  I'nYpientlv 
at  war  witli  the  Pottawatonlie^,  and  raids  were 
after  made  into  each  other's  country  For 
many  years  a  larg-e  tract  of  country  hiyino-  he- 
tween  these  tribes  was  overrun  witli  g-ame,  as 
hotli  tribes  were  afraid  to  liunt  there,  bein<r  b'able 
to  an  attack  by  a  war  pai'ty  of  the  eneniv. 

Sometime  between  tlie  years  1785  ajid  17m) 
the  Pottawatoniies  and  Kickapoos  attacked  a  war 
l)arty  of  Kaskaskians  (.n  Cash  river,  (now  in 
Johnson  county,)  ami  kided  a  laro'e  nundu-r  of 
tliem.  Tradition  points  out  the  place  wliere 
tins  massacre  took  place,  and  in  a  cave  near  bv  is 
still  to  be  seen  the  bones  of  hnn(h-ed  ni  tlie  slain. 
(>u  the  24th  of  August,  Idltl  a  [r.-aty  was 
signed  at  St.  I.oins  between  (-i(.\ernor  Ni?iian 
Edwards,  General  Willinni  Clark  and  Auguste 
Chauteati,  c(.iiimissioners  «.n  the  pan  of  the 
(Jnited  States  government,  and  twenty-eight  In- 
dian chiefs  representing  tlie  Pnttawatomies, 
Ottawas  and  (^hij)j>ewas.  Twenty-three  oi'  these 
cliiefs  were  Pottawatomies,  three  Ottawas.  and 
two  Chippcwas.     A  nundx'r  of  Sacs,  Foxes    and 


if 


nmmm 


Ml 


260       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

Kickapoo  chiefs  were  present  at  tli is  treaty,  whose 
names  ap[)ear  as  witnesses  to  the  papers. 

In  this  treaty,  the  Pottawatoniies  sold  most  of 
their  lands,  including  all  the  country  l)et\veen  the 
Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  known  as  the  Mil- 
itary Tract.  This  purchase  extended  nijrth  as 
far  as  the  Indian  Bonndarv  Line,  which  ran  from 
a  j)oint  on  Lake  Michigan,  south  of  Chica<;'o,  to 
the  Mississippi  river,  near  Rock  Island.  This 
line  was  surveyed  in  the  summer  of  1819  hy  John 
C.  Sullivan,  under  the  direction  of  Graham  and 
Philli])s,  commissioners  appointed  hy  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Till  it  od  States  for  that  purpose.  For 
a  part  ot  the  \\;iy  it  divided  the  country  hetween 
the  Pottawatoniies  and  Wirmehagoes,  and  was 
made  a  standanl  line  in  the  surve3'S  of  the  state. 
In  the  year  L8-10  Wisconsin  made  a  claim 
to  tlint  r)art  of  Illinois  lavini;  north  of  this  line 
under  the  ordiiumce  of  1787,  and  for  some  time 
it  was  a  matter  of  controversy  between  the  re- 
spective states. 

Although  the  Pottavvatomies  had  sold  their 
lands,  it  was  stipidated  in  the  conditions  of  sale 
that  they  were  to  occup}'  them  until  rc<|uired  for 
actual  settlement,  and  they  gave  them  up  only 
when  the  tide  of  emigrants  obliged  them  to  do  so. 

These  Indians  left  the  country  at  different 
times  from  1882  to  188(5,  to  ()ccuj)y  lands  assigned 


POTTAWATOMIE8  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER.  2(U 

them  by  the  ^-overMtiieni  <ni  the  west  side  of  the 
Missouri  river.  But  their  trails  across  the  ]>rai. 
nes,  and  eaiuj)  poles  were  seen  here  for  many 
years  afterwards. 

Among-  the  chiefs  known  by  fur  traders  and 
early  settlers,  who  died  in  this  country  and 
buried  near  their  native  villa<res,  were  Seriach- 
wine,  Black  Pai'tridge,  Gonio,  Waba,  Comas,  and 
Shick  Shack.  Waulx.nsie,  Autiu^kee,  Meam- 
muse,  with  other  chiefs  <*f  less  note  went  west 
with  their  resi)ective  bands.  Shaubena  went  west 
with  his  band  in  the  fall  «.f  1886,  but  on  the  fol- 
lowing year  returned  with  his  timiiiy  to  this 
country,  and  died  on  the  bank  of  the  Illinois  river 
neai-  Seneca,  in  the  year  Ls58,  and  was  buried  in 
Morris  cemetery. 

Indiana  everywhere  are  attached  to  tfieir  home 
—the  land  of  their  nativity— but  those  on  the 
Illinois  river  were  unusually  so.  Their  country 
was  well  sup])lied  with  game,  and  the  (jroves 
filled  with  l)ee  trees.  Here  were  their  sugar 
camps  and  the  j)lace  of  holding  war  dances  and 
annual  religions  feasts.  To  their  friends  ann^ig 
the  early  settlers  and  fur  traders,  manv  of  them 
with  tears  in  their  eyes  expi-essed  their  regrets  of 
leaviiig  the  liome  of  their  youth  for  a  new  (.ne  in 
a  strange  land. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  the  Indian.-    left 


Ill 


!l 


1 


:tl        '1 


2B2        FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

this  country,  ssmMll  parties  of  tliom  were  occasion- 
ally seen  in  the  vicinity  of  their  native  villa^CB, 
having  returned  for  the  purpose  of  once  more 
looking  on  the  scene  of  their  youth,  and  the 
graves  of  their  fathers.  But  soon  their  trails 
were  fenced  up  by  early  pioneers,  and  the  graves 
of  their  ancestors  plowed  over,  so  they  ceased  to 
return  in  after  vears. 

It  was  intended  to  give  a  more  elaborate  ac- 
count of  the  Pottawatomies  of  Illinois  river,  but 
the  material  is  not  at  hand  to  do  so.  Many  inci- 
dences relating  to  hunting  parties,  treaties,  ttc,  are 
from  tradition,  others  from  Indian  agents  and  fur 
traders,  but  th;y  are  found  conllicting,  and  therc- 
foi'e  bear  no  pai-t  in  this  work. 

Col.  Barassa,  (^i  western  Kansas,  an  educated 
lialf-breed,  with  whom  I  have  a  [personal  acquain- 
tance, has  furnislted  manv  items  relatini>:  to  the 
Indians  of  Illin"is  river,  some  of  which  are  given 
to  the  public,  and  others  rejected  as  foreign  to 
our  purpose. 


CEREMONIES    OVER    SETTVCHWINK  GRAVE. 

In  the  summer  of  1S81,  Senachwine  died  and 
was  buried  on  a  high  bluft,  overlooking  the  vil- 
lage and  surrounding  country  where  his  ijjrave  is 
still  to  be  seen.  A  wooden  monument  was 
placed  over  his  grave,  and  by  its  side  was  planted 


CERKMONFES  OVKU  8KNA(M1  WINE'h  GRA  VE         263 

j^  i^-^l.  polo,  on   .U-u-U   (or  ur.ny  years  vvav.l  a 

'^l^t%  TwovoarsamM-Senacl.vine's.U.ath, 
Ins  band  Joft  tor  the  M-e.r,  and  arc  now  livin..  in 
western  Kansas.  ^ 

In  the  summer  of  1835,  twent;,-ti,ree  warriors 
^v.  h    he.r  heads  deeorat.d  witli  turkey  feathers, 

'";•'  the.r  taces  painted  in  various  coIo,;,  cn^an.))- 
^■'J  ;"'  the  site  of  Senaehwine's  vidai^e,  while 
ti^ieir  pomes  were  teedino.  on  the  prairi^  near  hv. 
Ihese     warriors    were    so.is    and     ^.-Hndsons    of 

t^enaehwu.e,  and  had  traveled  ahout  live  Jmndred 
n.i  es  to  visit  hisgraN-e.      With  their  fae<>s  hlaeked 
••"id  their  heads  covered  with  i)hinkets,  thev  knelt 
^"•<"".d  the   o,,ne   invokino-  the  Great    Si)irit  to 
I'>-<>tect  the  i-emains  of  the  departed  eliief      For 
n.any  hours  they  remained  in  this  ].osition,  while 
tjie.rM'Mdsand  lamentations  were  heard  tar  away 
Alter  tlie  nionrnino-,  eame  the  dance  of  the  .iJad; 
■Adiich  IS  <lescril)ed  by  an  eye  witness,  Mr.  Reeve« 
as  very  effeetino-.      The  warriors  (h'vested  them 
selves  of  tlieir  cIothini,r,and  smeared  their  bodies 
Nvitli  red  paint,  while  on   tlieir  dieeks  and   fore- 
heads   were    many  fioures  representing  tjie  sun 
nuMin  and  stars.     Their  clothing,  rifles,  tomahawks 
and  scalping  knives,  were  placed   by  the  side  of 
the  pole  that  stood  at    the    head    of  the  grave  • 
and  Mere   now  ready  to   commence  the  "^daneej 
The  warriors  joining  hands,  danciii-  in  a  eircle 


I 


i!) 


264      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF    ILLINOIS  RIVER. 

aroiiiid  the  i^rave,  ringing  and  cliaiitiiig  all  the 
wliile.  At  intervals,  they  would  stop  daneing, 
the  leader  repeat  a  few  words,  when  all  would 
yell  at  the  top  of  their  voice  ;  after  which  they 
would  cry  for  a  moment,  and  then  continue  the 
dance  as  before.  When  these  ceremonies  werO 
ended  the  warrioi-s  mounted  their  })onies  and  left 
for  their  home  in  the  tar  west. 

A  few  days  after  the  ceremonies,  some  person 
oj)ened  Senach wine's  grave  and  robbed  it  of  all 
its  valuables,  consisting  of  rille,  tomahawk, 
medals,  &e.,  which  were  buried  with  him.  The 
bones  were  also  taken  out  and  scattered  around 
the  grave,  and  bunch  of  long  gray  hair  still 
adhered  to  the  skull,  giving  it  a  gliastly  appear- 
ance. Some  days  afterward  a  party  of  Indians 
belonging  to  ShaulxMui's  band  gathered  uj) 
Senachwine's  bones,  reburied  them,  and  placed 
the  wooden  monument  again  over  his  i::rave. 

During  the  summer  of  1835  James  R.  Talia- 
ferro  built  a  dwelling  on  the  site  of  Senach- 
wine's village,  where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Taliaferro 
was  present  at  the  reburial  of  Senachwine's  re- 
mains, and  says  that  Indians  from  the  west  at 
different  times  made  a  }>ilgrimageto  the  grave.  He 
also  says  that  the  pole  stood  at  the  head  oi  the 
grave  for  many  years,  as  well  as  the  beaten  path 
around  it  made  by  the  dancing  of  warriors. 


CIIAPTJOK  XX  1 1  I. 

ATTKMPT  TO  MURDER  A    SURVEYING  PARTY. 

D.irino-tlie  summer  <,f    1822  the   Government 
surveys  were  eompJeted  in    the   Military    District 
as  tar  n.,rt.li  as  the  Indian    Boundary  Line.     At 
that    time    there    was    no    settlement    north    of 
Springlield,  and  the  country  was  rull   of    Indians 
■  who   slill    held    it    by    the    ri^ht    of  p<.ssession. 
Ahjug  bureau  creek  wei-e  two  surveying  parties 
one  headed  by  Tuomas  C.  Uector,  and  the  other 
b.y   Stephen    Kector,  with  their   camp    on   East 
13ureau,  about  one  mile  above  its  junction    witli 
the  main  creek.     With   these   sur'veyors    was  a 
man    named  John   Hanks,  who   was  eno-a-ed   as 
teamster,    but  spent  much  of  his  time    inlmnting 
and  «npi>lyiiig  the  camp  with  nu-at.     One    night 
ILiidvs  with  two  com])anioiis  visited   the    Indian 
vilhi:>:e,   and    making   free  with   the    s(piaws,  be- 
came  involyed    in  a  dillieulty,  and  one  of  them 
received  a  wound  by  a  tomahawk  in   the  hand  of 
an  enraged  India.i.     One  day   while  Hanks  was 


iailiiiii 


266       FHKNOn  AND  INDTANH  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVKR. 


h.'l  i 


'  (• 


On   arriving  at  the   village  and 
telling  ot  In.'!'  wrongN,  the  warriors   were  greatly 


hunting  (k)er  in  the  creek  limlier,  he  encountered 
a  \-oung  Indian  maiden,  acconi[)anied  by  two 
Kinall  [)appooses  gathering  lowers.  Hanks  made 
overtures  to  the  sqnaw  when  slie  ran  towards  tlie 
village,  but  was  caught  and  her  j>erson  violatcid 
l)y  tlie  liuntei 

ot  her  wrongN,  tl 
agitated,  and  some  of  th(Mn  threatened  to  shoot 
the  culprit.  A  young  warrior  whose  fancied  bride, 
was  this  young  maiden,  made  prej)arations  to 
avenge  her  wrongs,  and  during  the  night,  accom- 
panied by  about  iifty  of  his  friends,  left  for  the 
c;imp  of  the  surveyors,  with  the  intention  of 
killing  the  whole  party  as  they  lay  asleej)  on  their 
bunks.  Soon  after  they  left,  their  murderous  in- 
tentions became  known  in  the  village,  when  a  drum 
V)eat  an  alarm,  to  arouse  the  warriors  from  their 
slumber.  Autuckee,  the  head  chief,  with  many 
of  his  friends,  mounted  theii"  ponies,  and  rode 
with  all  speed,  overtaking  the  would-be  murder- 
ers before  reaching  the  camp,  compelling  them  to 
return,  and  thereby  saving  the  lives  of  the  sur- 
veyors. The  voung  warrior  with  a  few  of  Ids 
friends  were  kept  under  guard  until  the  survey- 
ors left  the  country. 


KALTOO,  OK  YOUNG  8ENACHWINE. 

On  the  death  of  Senachwine  his  son  succeeded 


KALTOO,  OR  YOUNG  8ENACHWINE. 


207 


llg 


hin!  H8  chief  of  tlie  hand,  and  became  noted  atno..- 
the  early  pioneers.   ■  His  Inrliai,  name  was  Kalto^^ 
l>iit  was  better  kncwn  amon<r  fur  traders  an  y<,un.>' 
Senaeliwine:      He  M-as  an  Indian  ni  tine  personjd 
appearance,    poesessin-    e\<>ellent     physical     and 
mental   powers,  ecpial   to    his  distinguished    sire, 
but  was  affected  with  the  demon  (»f  drunkenness.' 
Tills  youn<r  cliief  nuide  frequent  visits  to  tradin<,r 
posts  alono-  the  river  where  lie  W(,uld  spend  dav^ 
in  dissipation,  and  sometimes  get  into  trouble  with 
the  traders.     While  his  band   was  encami)ed    on 
the  beech    nf  the   lake   abov(>    Peoria,  thev   held 
what    is  called   a   fish  <lance,  andbeing  well  sup- 
plied with  whisky,  many  got  diunk,  and  while  in 
the  revelry  one   of  ihe   warriors  killed   anotiier. 
Young  Senachwine.  {iceom])anied  by  a   number 
of  warriors,  took  the  murderei-  to   Ouawa  for  the 
purpose  of  having  him  hung  in  accordance  with 
the  custom   of   the  whites.     On  takino.  the  mur- 
derer to  the  residence  of  Geo.  E.  Walker,  then 
an  Indian  ti-ader,  but  now  of  the  Oriental  Bh^'k, 
LaSalle  street,  Chicago,   requested  him   to   han.' 
the  culprit.     Mr.    Walker  did   not  like  to  offend 
the  chief,  as  he  had  a  large  trade  with  his  band,  so 
he  conseuted  to  hang  the  prisoner,  and  prepared  a 
n.pe  for  that  purpose.     When  all  was  ready  Mr. 
Walker  said  to  young  Senachwine  that  in  a  fbw 
iiH.riths  all    the   Indians  of    the   different    bands 


mf^DH,-^-,^ 


268       FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  OF  ILLINOIS  RIVEK. 


■  i 


ii: 


would  be  in  Chicago  to  receive  their  Hniiiiities, 
and  to  prevent  erinie  anions'  trihe.s  it  would  I»e 
better  to  hang  hini  there  [)ni.lit-ly.  Bnt,hai(l  Mr. 
Walker,  ''  I  will  hang  the  culprit  now  if  you  in- 
sist upon  it."  Alter  soiueeontiideration  the  chief 
concluded  to  })o.st}tone  the  hanging  until  the 
meeting  in  Chicago,  but  before  the  time  arrived 
the  matter  wa.s  settled  among  themselves,  and 
Walker  was  not  e;illc(l  on  tlie  second  time  to 
hang  the  miu'derer. 

In  the  fall  of  18-iI,  ten  years  after  the  death 
of  Senachwine,  a  lone  Indian  riding  a  jaded  p^'Uy 
was  seen  <»n  Green  river,  and  Ibr  a  lew  days  was 
the  guesi  o(  a  halt-breed  by  the  name  of  Battis. 
This  Indian,  whobc  manly  iorm,  once  the  pride 
of  his  band,  was  now  bent  and  jxdsied — not  by 
age,  tor  he  was  still  in  middle  life,  but  by  dissi- 
pation and  ilisease.  This  Indian  was  Kaltoo,  or 
young  8enachwiiii>  of  former  days,  wliose  hand- 
some tbrm  and  stately  mien  is  still  fi'esh  in  the 
minds  oj'  some  v)r  the  few  tralers. 

Kalto  being  atllieted  with  an  incurable  disease, 
and  knowing  tliat  his  end  was  nigh,  left  his  home 
on  Kansas  river  and  alone  visited  this  country  in 
order  that  he  once  more  might  l(>ok  on  the  haunts 
of  his  youth,  and  the  grave  of  his  father. 

FUR  TliADEltS. 

The  fur  trade  on  the  Illinois  river  is  so  closely 


I 


FCK   TKADKHS. 


269 


eonneete.1    «-,tl,   tl,e  Fred,   an.l    l,„lia„s,   tl.at 
these  «keu.lu.s  wo„l,l   not  be  e,„n,,lete   without 
"rtl,e>-   all„.s,„„    t„   it.     K„r   one    l,un,ired   an.l 
tl..rt.y  years,  the   KVoneh  ha,l  ,M„li.s|„uod  control 
»t  the  fur  tra,le,  au,l  toth™,  it  was  a  ...eat  soureo 
"f  wealth.     After  the  K,-e„,.l,  were  ,lriven  awav 
(roM.  Peona,  there  was   I,ut    little  tra.le  on    tul- 
Jllmois  river  for  the  tour  succ-ee.lin-  years      The 
I".lians    ,n    onler  to   ,li.spuse  ot  th.ir  furs,  were 
"hhge<l    ,„    ,arry  then,    .ither    to    St.    Lo,ns    or 
ChK-ago.     At  the  latter  plaee,  a    Freuehn.an    l,y 
fl.e  ,,an,e  of  DnI'in,  oeen|,ie,l  Kinzie\s  ,lwellin.. 

an<    for  al.out  (our  years  can^ie,!  on   an  e.xtensiv,; 
tra.le  with  tlie  lii.liaii.s. 

In  the  year  181K,  the  Anioriean  F„r  Company 
(^.stahhshe,!  tra.linj.  posts  „!,,,„.  |„e  Illinois   river 
'""i   "H'""|«>liz..l   the   tra.le  with  the  Indians  for 
a  munher  of  years      On,,  of  these  tnuliiig  p.^fs 
«.is  near  the  month  „f  th,  K,„,,„|.„^,  ,i,^   '„„^. 

■^T"*" ','"-■ ""■'  -■^"'■^•""•'■'^'^k, -id  another 

a  few  mile,  l,el.,w  Pcria  lake,  at  a  plaee  now 
«•"-  Wo,.,,,.  Thi,,  p,..eo  .n-,,in„IIy  L  ealle.l 
0|;u  hy  the  Kivneh,  l.,u  afferwar.ls  knoun  as  the 

Ira-lmK    HoMse,"   an.l    tor    „„ny  years    it  was 
l^ept  by  a  henelmiaii,  nainu.l  L!i^s,.„, 

Antoine  Des  Oh.nnps,  a  Canadian  I'lvrn-hman 
oug  .-,   resi.lent  ol   l',..,ria,  but  afterwards  of  Ca- 
liokia,  WU.S  t),e  liisl  general  agent  ol  tlie  Ameriean 


; 


' 


!  % 


I 


270      FRENCH  AND  INDIANS  (»F    ILLINOIS  RIVRR. 

Fur  Comj)any,  and  was  siiccoodod  l)y  Gonlon  S. 
Iluhluuvl.  T\\\H  C(Miipany  i^liii)j)t'i]  tliclr  furs  and 
pelts  to  St.  LouIb,  in  small  Mackinaw  boats  called 
bateau,  and  l>y  tl»e  same  means  l)i'(»iii,d)t  goods  up 
the  river  to  siipj>1\'  tlie  dillercnt  trading  posts. 
When  emiirrants  eame  westwai'd  and  settled  on 
the  Illinois  river,  it  eaused  competition  in  tlie  tur 
trade,  and  a  few  years  later  independent  traders 
done  the  Imsiness  of  the  country.  Peter  Menard 
estahlished  trading  houses  at  dill'enMit  i)laei!s  in 
the  Pottawatomie  country  ;  Jolm  llandin,  one  at 
Peoria  ;  '^I^homn.  Ilartzell,  at  Hennepin  ;  Simon 
Crozier,  at  riic  mouth  oi"  Big  Vermillion,  and 
George  E.  Wat k(M\  at  Ottawa. 


I 


,---V 


VER. 

<loii  S. 
irs  and 
iuallod 

()(1,S  up 

posts. 
fd  on 
lie  tiir 
ruiJers 
eiiHi'd 
c'08  in 
")no  at . 
liiiioii 
,   and 


'  f 


..^. "  •■ 


